A statement he made: No mature adult wants wait to read about a football game that happened Saturday until Wednesday's paper comes out.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Torch suggestions
Among the advice Saul Hansell of the NY Times had for members of the Torch staff was this: Serve readers (students) where they are. What was he getting at with this comment? Basically, do more beyond the print edition. One tip he had was to have a blog for each section of the paper that would be updated on an "as news happens" basis rather than waiting for Wednesdays to roll around to provide news.
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11 comments:
I agree. I want to read about issues or things that happen when they happen not one week later.
By: Gina B.
I also agree with the "Serve Student's Now" idea, but I feel that it is also the reason so many newspapers are starting to feel the downfalls of putting the news online.
I know that many newspapers (not just locally in Big Rapids) have been hurting, because people can attain their news for free online, so why bother to pay for a subscription?
I think there should be limitations on what is posted on the internet, that way readers still have to pay for the paper in order to get the entire article.
While most people would disagree with me, and say that free news is the best news, I'm more concerned with keeping newspapers around for as long as possible. And putting news online as it happens is just one step closer to abolishing newspapers, and switching completly over to the internet.
I agree! How neat would it be to have instant news tickers in the buildings on campus hooked up to the news feed from the Torch blogs? I think i would be more apt to stop and read the Ferris news than I am to stop and listen to CNN (which is on in the business building ALL DAY)
Stacy B.
Some great ideas. Of course, the Torch staff is not capable of doing 24-hour news updates. But certainly looking into a faster news cycle than weekly is necessary soon.
I dont know about anyone else, but I LOVE reading about things at least a week after they happen....Seriously though, I agree. Since peoples' lives are so fast pace anymore, after a day or two, things become irrelevant to current news.
I would like to see more heads up thought and writing. I would like to see them take action on a story rather react to something every time.
I would like to see more stories about what is going to happen at Ferris. I see stories in the Torch all the time recapping something that happened in the past weeke and think oh that would have been fun to go to if I had known about it before hand. Even if they just had a section with little snippits, about a sentence or two, for each event in the next week. Or maybe even a feature story about who is putting on teh event and what we can expect to see.
Definitely a blog would help things, but also a more comprehensive (i.e.: Complete) archives section. As it is, we have a five year gap of coverage. And Maybe a section where students could voice their opinions on certain topics as well as e-mail addresses for each of the staff members. (They need not have their names as I am aware that the staff changes from year-to-year.
Does the Torch use a web-based CMS, like WordPress? For CollegiateLive, it was program-based, meaning even now it's just one person. And it worked okay, both for me and for Jackie this year. But when you can have something web-based, that reporters and editors can use from their own homes, they can update the news site whenever they want - just like a blog. (Or have it sent to the Web Editor for approval) In fact, WordPress IS a blog platform, that is being utilized as a CMS. Can the Torch staff, apart from blogs, access the site apart from the web team?
The Temple News (http://temple-news.com/) uses WordPress, somewhat well, too. Might be something to consider. (As well as getting rid of the typewriter sounds!)
For the "blog for every section" idea, I would look to USAToday.com for some inspiration. They have blogs either directly related to each section ("On Deadline" for News), or a few blogs for a section ("Pop Candy," "Idol Chatter" for Entertainment). Also, Mediabistro's "Fishbowl" blogs can maybe help the confused to show how a blog can have a variety of content, while being very much about a narrow field of interest.
Charles,
As always you provide some great comments - and specific solutions. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
How are things at Wood TV 8?
Aw, thanks Steve!
TV8 is going great... I'll have to send you an e-mail update soon. I've been getting to do some very cool stuff with them!
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