Giving readers what they want...Or is it pandering?

Giving readers what they want...Or is it pandering?

Many news hacks insist that only they know what’s best for readers/viewers:

Giving readers what they want...Or is it pandering?

Many news hacks insist that only they know what’s best for readers/viewers:

“This business of giving people what they want is a dope pusher’s argument. News is something people don’t know they’re interested in until they hear about it...” Reuven Frank, former prez of NBC news

How’s that attitude working out?

How’s that attitude working out?

The combined viewership for the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts dropped 2%, to 22.1 million in 2012, resuming the downward trajectory of nearly three decades.

Network news has lost nearly one million viewers/year for 30 years: Pew Research Center for Excellence in Journalism

So what do readers want?

So what do readers want?

They’re in a big hurry

So what do readers want?

They’re in a big hurry They have short attention spans

So what do readers want?

They’re in a big hurry They have short attention spans They want stories that personally

connect... craft stories that focus on the reader rather than on the newsmakers: what does it mean to ME?

So what do readers want?

They’re in a big hurry They have short attention spans They want stories that personally

connect... craft stories that focus on the reader rather than on the newsmakers: what does it mean to ME?

But they also want stories: real narrative dramas starring real people

So what do readers want? They’re in a big hurry They have short attention spans They want stories that personally

connect... craft stories that focus on the reader rather than on the newsmakers: what does it mean to ME?

But they also want stories: real narrative dramas starring real people

“Innovate or die.” Richard Curtis, ex- USA Today

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Owner: The Halifax Media Group “The group consists of 36

newspapers and affiliated websites, published in five states in the Southeast. Halifax Media’s strategy is to invest long-term capital in quality companies positioned in strong markets that are closely connected to the community.”

Halifax Media Group

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Formerly owned by the New York Times Company, a New York Stock Exchange listed public company. NYT bought the Sarasota paper in 1982 from the Lindsay family

Began in 1925 as the Sarasota Herald

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Also owns a bunch of websites: Ticketsarasota, artssarasota, yoursarasota, htpreps, insiderealestate

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Also owns a bunch of websites: Ticketsarasota, artssarasota, yoursarasota, htpreps, insiderealestate

Circulation: 74,000 daily 95,000 Sunday96th largest newspaper in the U.S.

The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Publisher: Pat Dorsey, el queso grande

Executive editor: Bill Church, chief news executive

Assistant Managing Editors: Kyle Booth, Tony Elkin, Matt Sauer

The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Also has editors for digital, sports, national/foreign news, community news, state/regional news, real estate, editorial page, business news, arts

The hierarchy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Also has editors for digital, sports, national/foreign news, community news, state/regional news, real estate, editorial page, business news, arts

In addition to news side, also has executives running circulation, advertising, but where’s production?

Jargon: news slang you gotta know

Broadsheet: Sarasota Herald-Tribune size newspaper

Jargon: news slang you gotta know

Broadsheet: Sarasota Herald-Tribune size newspaper

Tabloid: smaller newspaper, e.g., The Sarasota Observer and Pelican Press.

Jargon: news slang you gotta know

Broadsheet: Sarasota Herald-Tribune size newspaper

Tabloid: smaller newspaper, e.g., The Sarasota Observer and Pelican Press

Also a pejorative synonym for sleazy/yellow journalism

Terms, terms, terms

By-line: Reporter’s name and title

Terms, terms, terms

By-line: Reporter’s name and title Headline: Big type, almost always

written by copy editors

Terms, terms, terms

By-line: Reporter’s name and title Headline: Big type, almost always

written by copy editors Dateline

Terms, terms, terms

By-line: Reporter’s name and title Headline: Big type, almost always

written by copy editors Dateline Pull quote/lift-out quote: a juicy

quote from story that’s given special graphic emphasis

Terms, terms, terms

By-line: Reporter’s name and title Headline: Big type, almost always

written by copy editors Dateline Pull quote/lift-out quote: a juicy

quote from story that’s given special graphic emphasis

Cutline: the copy underneath a photo that explains what’s going on

So, ya got what it takes?

Take aptitude test on p. 29… not graded

Assignment 12/3

Remember no class on 11/26We tour the Herald-Tribune! Meet at LAF at 12 noon Carpool to H-T Tour from 12:30-2:30 p.m. I’ll have sammies for lunch

Assignment 12/3

Our guide/source is Harold Bubil of H-T

Assignment 12/3

Research Bubil Come prepared with questions about

himself and H-T in general Bring your reporters’ notebooks Dress appropriately