Comments on: Seeing is believing http://contentninja.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/seeing-is-believing/ An exploratory journey on the edge of newspaper evolution Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:38:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dale http://contentninja.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/seeing-is-believing/#comment-159 Dale Thu, 29 May 2008 18:58:08 +0000 http://contentninja.wordpress.com/?p=44#comment-159 Some days the majority of my reading is "soft news," so I'd suggest not relegating it to the sidelines. Wiser folks than I will need to find the right platform for it, but let's keep it readily available even if it has to be niche status. We can't pontificate all the time, nor can we give folks the stuff we think they need to know all the time. I'd wager that readership of the advice columns is far heavier than that of county supervisor stuff. If we pay attention, readers (or browers and viewers) will let us know what they want and how they want it -- I hope! Some days the majority of my reading is “soft news,” so I’d suggest not relegating it to the sidelines. Wiser folks than I will need to find the right platform for it, but let’s keep it readily available even if it has to be niche status. We can’t pontificate all the time, nor can we give folks the stuff we think they need to know all the time. I’d wager that readership of the advice columns is far heavier than that of county supervisor stuff. If we pay attention, readers (or browers and viewers) will let us know what they want and how they want it — I hope!

]]> By: contentninja http://contentninja.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/seeing-is-believing/#comment-158 contentninja Thu, 29 May 2008 14:42:45 +0000 http://contentninja.wordpress.com/?p=44#comment-158 More questions: Perhaps the focus on big story/hard news models is why features staffs across the country are being gutted in the name of 21st-century reorgs? Is relegation to the sidelines a given for features writing? I don't want to be too features-focused in this exploration, but I do think my basic point is sound: What's the plan for soft news reporting? More thoughts, anyone ... More questions: Perhaps the focus on big story/hard news models is why features staffs across the country are being gutted in the name of 21st-century reorgs? Is relegation to the sidelines a given for features writing?

I don’t want to be too features-focused in this exploration, but I do think my basic point is sound: What’s the plan for soft news reporting?

More thoughts, anyone …

]]> By: paulbradshaw http://contentninja.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/seeing-is-believing/#comment-157 paulbradshaw Thu, 29 May 2008 11:47:55 +0000 http://contentninja.wordpress.com/?p=44#comment-157 I'd be inclined to think that features become increasingly reliant on a community angle, along with the idea of 'service journalism'. I'm going to have a think about this one... I’d be inclined to think that features become increasingly reliant on a community angle, along with the idea of ’service journalism’. I’m going to have a think about this one…

]]> By: Dale http://contentninja.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/seeing-is-believing/#comment-156 Dale Wed, 28 May 2008 21:00:43 +0000 http://contentninja.wordpress.com/?p=44#comment-156 I think features get much the treatment we sometimes give them now, only much more so -- we complement and embellish the printed product in the online presentation and in the process build traffic patterns. A fashion feature could be accompanied online by additional photos and shopping information, who's wearing it, patterns for the do-it-yourselfer, fashion feedback comments, links to other fashion outlets, a "Project Runway" blog, etc. I was struck by your basic premise. It seems like every time we get together to discuss something like this, we use the "big story" to illustrate how we'll do things. We leave the meeting, sit down at our desks and say, "OK, it's Wednesday, where's my big story?" I think features get much the treatment we sometimes give them now, only much more so — we complement and embellish the printed product in the online presentation and in the process build traffic patterns. A fashion feature could be accompanied online by additional photos and shopping information, who’s wearing it, patterns for the do-it-yourselfer, fashion feedback comments, links to other fashion outlets, a “Project Runway” blog, etc.

I was struck by your basic premise. It seems like every time we get together to discuss something like this, we use the “big story” to illustrate how we’ll do things. We leave the meeting, sit down at our desks and say, “OK, it’s Wednesday, where’s my big story?”

]]> By: iowakitkat http://contentninja.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/seeing-is-believing/#comment-150 iowakitkat Tue, 27 May 2008 18:41:39 +0000 http://contentninja.wordpress.com/?p=44#comment-150 No matter where a story "lives" or which steps it bypasses or uses, the key boils down to another quote from OJB: “If there’s a story on the election in every paper, what can you do to bring in visitors? If every paper carries a match report, what makes yours distinctive? In a world of infinite information, where’s your ‘wow’ factor to get people talking?” No matter where a story “lives” or which steps it bypasses or uses, the key boils down to another quote from OJB:

“If there’s a story on the election in every paper, what can you do to bring in visitors? If every paper carries a match report, what makes yours distinctive? In a world of infinite information, where’s your ‘wow’ factor to get people talking?”

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