Why you don't read this blog
Many of the journalists at the N&R read this blog, for which I'm grateful. Of course, it also means some don't. That's OK. I have a narrowly focused niche here. (And the ones with a successful future read it. :))
I started thinking about this as I've thought about ways to get more people to read the paper. The paper is directed at a mass audience (although it is getting narrower). The blog is directed to people interested in journalism and, specifically, the News & Record. If people in our newsroom don't read this blog, how can I expect to grow the newspaper and news site audience? So I asked around. The answers were predictable: Not enough time and not a natural habit to come here.
And I'd add a third that is common to newspaper readers: the content isn't good enough. If it were, readers would find the time. That's my personal challenge. I know that it's impossible to get 100 percent of a potential audience because some people aren't interested, others just don't read and still others get the information other ways. Still, I'm studying these 101 ways to make your blog sizzle!
Likewise, making the content of the paper more compelling for those folks inclined to read papers but do so infrequently is our professional challenge. I'm thinking it is through more networked community journalism, more service journalism, better storytelling and more news. With a more robust, redesigned Web site -- which we're working on now -- these all apply to print and online.
Comments (5)
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Aw heck, just tell the N&R staffers where you hid their paychecks - but tell them in your blog. Readership might go up.
Posted on April 7, 2007 2:27 PM
Wait...we get paid? When did this happen?
Posted on April 7, 2007 2:34 PM
A few suggestions for how you could really spice up the blog and improve the paper:
1. Monday: Provide your pick for dumbest story of the previous 7-day period written specifically for the N&R. (This will keep the staff writers on their toes.)
2. Tuesday: Provide your picks for the three unfunniest cartoon strips of the previous 7-day period published in the N&R. (You will axe whichever strip is picked the most over the course of every six-month period.)
3. Wednesday: Provide your pick for idiot Op/Ed piece of the previous 7-day period published in the N&R. (You will axe the columnist/editorial board member picked the most over the course of every 12-month period. Note: you may need to have Doug Clark also do this so as to avoid liberal bias charges.)
4. Thursday: Provide your pick for moronic story of the previous 7-day period published by the N&R but not written specifically for the N&R. (This will keep the editors on their toes.)
5. Friday: Provide your winners/honorable mentions among the "Jokes on You" entries (i.e., don't allow whatever decency standards are suppressing the funniness of the print paper picks to affect yours.)
Hope this helps!
Posted on April 7, 2007 4:00 PM
Wait. You have a blog?
Posted on April 7, 2007 4:58 PM
OR, why not pick the best in those categories (instead of the worst)? Then, let readers chime in on whether they agree -- why or why not. That'd be ideal if the blog could promote that kind of discussion. Plus, the Letters to the Editor have, for years, been a forum for those who want to single out what readers perceive as the worst (fill in the blank) in print and online.
Posted on April 7, 2007 9:26 PM