Managing the Online Newsroom

Managing an Online Newsroom

NESPA –– May 2014 !

Jason Wallestad

The high school newsroom has been built around a print paradigm

●Number of stories

●Length of stories

●Timeline – Assignments, Writing Process, Deadlines

To see what the online newsroom should be, let’s look at the capabilities of the medium.

●You can publish one story at a time.

●There’s no limit to the number you can publish.

●There’s no length limit on stories.

●Stories will be more likely to be read if they’re timely and relevant.

●You can publish video, audio, & unlimited photos

The online revolution in high school media should fundamentally change your journalism classroom

●Your audience is redefined.

●Your timeline is redefined.

●Your definition of content is redefined

If we let the needs of an online newsroom drive our teaching, what we get is…

CHAOS

Managing the chaos – the big picture

Tip 1: Acceptance. Embrace the chaos.


Tip 2: Empower student leaders. De-emphasize your role as teacher.


Tip 3: Create a culture of urgency.


Tip 4: Motivate beyond the grade.


Tip 5: Create a culture of communication and collaboration.


Tip 6: Set and uphold standards.


Tip 7: Make sure that students are always thinking in terms of their audience.

Managing the chaos – practical tips

Tip 1: Have an online EIC.


Tip 2: Hold daily staff leadership meetings.


Tip 3: Hold daily staff meetings.


Tip 4: Pull together small group meetings regularly. Make students physically move.


Tip 5: Review analytics daily. Don’t let your audience be an abstraction.


Tip 6: Have a virtual space for tracking assignments.


Tip 7: Have a virtual space for communication outside of class.


Tip 8: Use Google Docs


Tip 9: Set quotas for both writers and editors


Tip 10: Set up stations/desks for individual editors


Tip 11: Set deadlines realistically


Tip 12: Check in with as many students as you can every day.


Tip 13: Get your EIC to make rounds.


Tip 14: Don’t be stressed out by downtime.


Tip 15: Make all students involved in a story sit together.


Tip 16: Publish stories when they’re ready. Don’t schedule them.


Tip 17: Have a plan for publishing breaking news quickly.

Managing the chaos – build systems

Story Assignment Process Editing Process Publishing Process Grading

Education

Managing the Online Newsroom