The Six Rules of Digital-First Newsroom April 14, 2015

Welcome to the Webinar This is an event from

Poynter’s News University, journalism’s e-learning leader ▪Host: Vicki Krueger

▪Director, interactive learning & NewsU ▪Use the Q&A pod to ask questions of the presenter ▪Join us on Twitter: #nuwebinar

Thank You Harnisch Foundation

▪ For funding our Webinar equipment

Knight Foundation ▪ For its support of News University

Today’s Presenter S. Mitra Kalita

Incoming Managing Editor, The Los Angeles Times Outgoing Executive Editor, Quartz Former president, SAJA Adjunct faculty, Poynter Past: Wall Street Journal, Mint, Washington Post, Newsday, AP

@mitrakalita mitra@latimes.com

First some Rules about the Rules - Made you click: Actually, there are

more than six - Different strokes: You know your

organization better than I do - You have to know the rules in order

to break them.

Today’s Agenda - How to think about content to

increase shares - How to engage your readers and

community - How to think about content for

mobile and/or the devices already here or on their way

- How to think less digitally, more story

Rule 1: Think of Readers First It’s not actually about digital - WHERE are your readers reading you? - WHAT do they care about? - WHY don’t they care about the

important stuff?

Rule 2: Headlines Matter They are the way in, perhaps only

thing that might get read - The case for clickbait - Make it worth it - Objects matter - Keep it conversational

Consider these…

Rule 3: Metrics Matter … But - Don’t just focus on the most popular - Look at the middle of Chartbeat for new

markets - Remember your instincts as a journalist

(intuit) - Trending versus the real questions you

must ask: What are people talking about? What are they not talking about?

- Advertisers and sponsors care a lot about who the audience is, the influentials reading you

Rule 4: Be a Part of the Community you Cover

- There’s Twitter and Facebook groups but don’t forget Reddit and LinkedIn

- Cater social media to the story - The internet expects interaction - Cede the floor to your readers - Accept the role of other platforms - Be all that you can be

Rule 5: Nonlinear Journalism! - You don’t have a white box to fill.

That is an opportunity. - Think of gaming, quizzes,

interactivity, talk to your readers.

Rule 6: Humans Commit Journalism, not Machines - Email. Say hi.

- Rely on instinct too.

- Your inbox is a goldmine

Traffic Gold…

Thank You, Mitra We’ll be going to Questions shortly We want to tell you about some

other training

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Upcoming Webinars Using Voice, Authority and ‘I’ in

Storytelling ▪April 15, 2015

Diving Deep into Google Trends ▪April 16, 2015

How News Organizations Can Make The Most Of Snapchat ▪ April 30, 2015

Poynter Seminars Essential Skills for New Managers I

▪This highly-interactive, 5-day seminar can equip you with tools to lead and grow a staff of high-performing journalists. ▪When: May 31 to June 5, 2015 ▪Apply by: May 1, 2015

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