Managing an Online Newsroom

MANAGING an ONLINE

NEWSROOMLogan Aimone, MJE // School Newspapers Online

Tuesday, March 18, 14

MANAGINGan ONLINE NEWSROOM

You’ve decided to adopt an online first attitude.



Now what?



Here’s what:• Commit.

• Build the audience.

• Develop a structure for writing, editing and teaching.



In the same way you must adapt the tools to work on the Web, you must adapt the classroom.



Students will be in different points of the

production schedule daily.And that’s OK.



What do teachers and students need to do

to accommodate Web publishing?



5 things to think about and address:• Day-to-day activities

• Leadership structures

• Coverage decisions

• Grading

• Fun


DAY-TO-DAYACTIVITIES



Day-to-day Activities• The daily activities of an online-first news staff look a lot like

the daily activities of a print-only class.

• However, each student could be at a different place in the publishing process.

• You can bring order to the chaos.



Day-to-day Activities• Brainstorm and plan stories. Have a quick session daily.

What’s happening? What do readers need to know?

• Teach lessons. Large-group, mini-lessons, ad hoc.

• Focus on the day’s priority. If it’s the print edition, spend time on design, editing.



Day-to-day Activities• Communicate beyond classroom. Develop a method to

facilitate organization and communication.

• One-on-one checkins. These add accountability and opportunity to redirect student efforts.

• Outside class. Coverage might require evenings, weekends and layout work nights (for print).


LEADERSHIPSTRUCTURES



Leadership Structures• Accommodate the online-first philosophy by revising student

leadership positions and descriptions.

• Empower students to make decisions responsibly.

• Plan for when big news happens.



Leadership Roles• Online Editor-in-Chief option. A student with a title and

responsibilities equal to the print editor.

• Expanded roles option. Assignment role for managing editor and additional coordinating for photographers/photo editors must be expanded.

• Social media coordinator. This person supervises adoption, policies, training and voice via social media channels.


COVERAGEDECISIONS



Coverage Decisions• Determine the best platform. Some stories are told better in

print, while others are told better online (or will appear first online).

• Post when it’s ready. Don’t just dump content on the website every three or four weeks.



Coverage DecisionsUse a planning process:

• Which stories will appear in print? Online? Both?

• How can online and print combine to create multimedia coverage?

• How can you tell advance and follow-up stories using both platforms? Live coverage?



Coverage DecisionsDiscuss the Web-specific elements:

• What components does a Web story need to be effective at telling the story:

• photos• video• audio• poll

• hyperlinks• infographic• pull quote (mug optional)• related stories



Coverage DecisionsEstablish timelines and deadlines:

• Set up an editing process that allows for students to finish and publish work at different times, not just the general deadline for a print issue.

• What deadlines make sense?



Coverage DecisionsDetermine the editing flow:

• You need a tool that allows you to collaborate in real time.

• This speeds up the editing process.

• Google Drive (Apps/Docs) is great for this.



Coverage DecisionsDetermine the publishing flow:

• Users can have different roles with levels of permission and responsibility.

• Have reporters place story in draft mode, including contextual links and pull quote suggestions.

• Once a story is edited, it can be approved and published.


GRADING



Grading• You will likely need to shift your paradigm for grading.

• You might need to try a few different formats until you find what works for you and your school.



Grading• Assignments will have many forms. How do you

accommodate this in grading?

• Your school may have requirements. Work within them.

• Set up a checklist of requirements to earn grades.

• Determine competency levels and grade based on level.

• Establish production quota for quarter/semester.



Grading• What happens when students slack off, flake out or just don’t

produce?

• There are tools to help. CSPA, NSPA, JEA, state associations, your colleagues.


FUN



Fun• The production cycle doesn’t have the same ebb and flow as

each printed paper, so you will need to build in time to celebrate, evaluate, bond and grow.

• Incorporate Web milestones (analytics, hits, likes, retweets) into the celebration list.



Managing online firsttakes some work

and an open mind.



The great journalismyou produce willlook different.



You’re using today’s technology and laying a

foundation for the future.



You’ll teach your students (or your peers) to adapt

to changing circumstances.



Take the leap!



Ready to jump in?



QUESTIONS? Let’s hear ’em.• Contact me at [email protected] or @loganaimone

• School Newspapers Online

• See me at the table in the exhibitor area?Tuesday, March 18, 14

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Managing an Online Newsroom