Sharing content
Editors from The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun said today that they have agreed to begin sharing certain stories, photos and other news content.
This idea would have been heresy a year ago. Heck, it might be heresy now.
But markets change, people change and traditions that have no value to readers must change, too.
We have used stories and photos from other newspapers for years, as they were filtered through the Associated Press. Last year, we began working with McClatchy and have used stories directly reprinted a day later from our "competitors," including the High Point Enterprise, the Winston-Salem Journal, the Reidsville Review, the News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer. Included the name of the paper right in the byline, too. We decided we could serve readers better if we put aside the need to create everything here.
I haven't heard from many readers -- I can think of only one -- who has raised a question about it.
Do you care if we entered into explicitly coverage agreements to share same-day content with newspapers around here? Do you even notice the bylines?
Comments (6)
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John:
It sounds like a great way to address the rapidly declining content in the N&R. It would also be a substantial improvement over the one- and sometimes two-day-old AP stories that the paper currently re-runs.
One subscriber's two cents...
Posted on December 23, 2008 4:38 PM
As a former student, I say good point, Professor Ribar. Anything that improves the content of the N-R is good.
Next improvement topic for discussion: Combining duplicative instructional programs at state educational institutions a mile apart.
Posted on December 23, 2008 5:46 PM
Perhaps your best content would be obtained from The Rhino - now that's a paper with some lead in its pencil and some bark in its bite.
Posted on December 23, 2008 6:08 PM
Sandra:
Good suggestion. The universities in the DC area addressed the issue by creating a consortium through which they shared library resources and allowed students to take classes at nearby institutions. It only addressed a little of the overlap but did give students a lot more flexibility in obtaining credits.
If you want to forward a specific suggestion, UNCG has a web-site set up ( http://www.uncg.edu/baf/pace/ ).
Happy holidays.
Posted on December 24, 2008 11:21 AM
The Greensboro Telegram would be happy to share content with the News & Record if you'd like to give us a call. Our publication specializes in local (i.e. Greensboro) news.
Posted on December 24, 2008 8:05 PM
The best solution would be to put the focus back on content and editing.
"News" meetings that focus solely on creating Picassos For A Day should be eliminated. Obsession with visual minutia should be discouraged.
Get the focus back on content, and you can't go wrong.
Posted on January 6, 2009 12:36 AM