Dec 29 2009

What you need for your hyperlocal newsroom

The first question (Q1) during Monday night’s #journchat was “What should a hyperlocal news site include/not include? What advice do you have?” With 200+ weekly participants there are many views shared from journalists, bloggers and public relations professionals (and students).

Here’s their take on what will make a successful hyperlocal newsroom. First, let me share my top 5 favorite tweets from Q1:

  1. @elissapr: Q1 Hyperlocal newssites need to focus on what makes them unique – don’t try to imitate national news sites #journchat
  2. gypsealeah Q1 Hyperlocal news sites should not report opinion, create integrity, establish a newsworthy reputation on local scale. #journchat
  3. Bobbiec Q1 A quick test for hyperlocal — little league info, local theater productions, any info you might get from gossipy neighbor #journchat
  4. @iteamproducer: Advice from an old editor: compete with church bulletin boards. #journchat
  5. rexr Q1 Do what everyone else can’t these days: Sell ad space face-to-face #journchat

And now highlights from answers to Q1:

@dpolitis: Last Q1 thought from me. Hyperlocal media outlets will succeed BECAUSE they allow & encourage local comments. #journchat

ScottLansing Q1 Much work can be done at home/cafes these days but actual hub where local writers produce content still important. #journchat

ScottLansing Q1 Hope actual newsroom still applies to hyperlocal online news. Concept similar to @OfficeNomads coworking #journchat

MistyMontano Q1: hyperlocal news sites should provide training for those who want to contribute content, & have editorial staff to fact check #journchat

@InfiniteCMO: Q1 How about giving the non profits and positive community members the appropriate coverage #Journchat

@30lines: Q1: Engage local bloggers already writing on specific topics (politics, musics, food). Leverage existing audiences. #journchat

@gypsealeah: Q1 can’t be a modge podge of info unchecked then just becomes gossip session loaded with misinformation. #journchat

elissapr Create content your audience wants & can*t get elsewhere RT @GetResults: @allanschoenberg Q1 Mkt resch needed make work #journchat

LoisMarketing #journchat Q1 If still publishing weekly/semi-weekly newspaper, cover major events, high school sports scores, obituaries

@dbreakenridge: Q1 We dont rely on Twitter for local news. Local news sites have a real opportunity w/community. #journchat

elissapr Q1 Create on-line *bold face* column eg NY Post Page 6 w/ relevant/fun local news/gossip;people love to see their names in print! #journchat

@dpolitis Q1: The best hyperlocal news sites have VERY strong guidelines and editors. #journchat

@emjaydoesPR: Q1 Realtors will advertise on hyperlocal sites, it’s exactly where they need to be #journchat

KLyons_PBT Q1 lot of lofty ambitions (story behind the story?) for a ‘hyperlocal’, ostensibly small-scale site. Who pays the bills? #journchat

@SuzieLin: Q1 Hyperlocal news should focus on news relevant to the audience that can’t be found elsewhere #journchat

@merylevans: Q1 Hyperlocal site needs to first be usable. If its hard and unwieldy, no one will contribute or interact. #journchat

@MichaelWillett: Q1 How about lots of citizenjournalist input, either edited or unedited? #Journchat

@MariaJamesPR:Q1 Hyperlocal news sites are an important resource for the community. Ads should be local as well as the content #journchat

@dbreakenridge Q1 A good local news site gives you the story behind the story #journchat

@JPeters1221 Q1 It’s got to be easy to navigate, fast to report, accurate & customizable IMO. #journchat

@rebeccakendall: Q1: Links to interesting local bloggers (emphasis on interesting) would be a nice touch #journchat

allanschoenberg Q1 There needs to be some form of fact checking otherwise it becomes a Yahoo chat board and useless #journchat

@MichaelWillett: Q1 How about lots of local reader picture and video uploading on hyperlocal news sites? #journchat

l3ahb3tan Q1: Hyperlocal sites should include local voices & have a granular view of what’s newsworthy. Monetiz. rec: be small biz friendly #journchat

InfiniteCMO Q1: Everyone wants/needs something free nowadays and hyperlocal news sites can partner with local businesses to provide that! #journchat

elissapr Q1 If coveraging nat’ news hyperlocal sites must find that local angle that brings the story to the grassroots level & audience #journchat

deanna413 Q1: should include a lot of resident/citizen-produced content in addition to content from “traditional” journos #journchat

MonroeOnABudget Q1 remember the trick of localizing a wire story to your audience? a hyperlocal web site or blog needs that spin. #journchat

dferrari Q1 The more customizable, the better. Know what person visiting the site is interested in & have it all on homepage like RSS #journchat

KristenEJ Q1: Make sure the site looks professional and as up to date as you can afford, which is a concept that’s getting cheaper by day #journchat

30lines Q1 – Work offline connections to build revenue. Offer great deals to your 1st advertisers to get them on board. #journchat

Resources and examples shared:

What would you add?

27 Comments on this post

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention What you need for your hyperlocal newsroom -- Topsy.com wrote:

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sarah Evans, Hyperloke News. Hyperloke News said: RT @PRsarahevans: What you need for your hyperlocal newsroom http://bit.ly/77KTPN #journchat [...]

    December 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
  1. Catering said:

    The first answer seems main reason of success is they allow & encourage local comments. such freedom and encouragement lead success.

    January 1st, 2010 at 2:22 am
  2. facebook video said:

    thanx for post

    January 1st, 2010 at 7:12 am
  3. avril lavigne said:

    Thanks to everyone for sharing.

    January 1st, 2010 at 7:44 am
  4. malatya haber said:

    thanx for post

    January 1st, 2010 at 8:17 am
  5. youtube gir said:

    thank you for entery

    January 1st, 2010 at 8:42 am
  6. Cartoon Bears said:

    What are some ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to spread the word about my business?

    January 1st, 2010 at 8:47 am
  7. sarki sozu said:

    happy new year to everybody

    January 1st, 2010 at 11:35 am
  8. Net Age Web Design said:

    Hyperlocal is a really cool work, and defining the meaning with regards to local news should mean just that. A serious focus on local content and news, everything from the nhigh school sports results through to the church fete, chess tournament, etc.

    I konw some of my examples are rather cheesy, but I feel that I got my point across….I hope!

    January 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 am
  9. free beats said:

    thank you for entery

    January 2nd, 2010 at 11:24 am
  10. yemek tarifleri said:

    social web sites are really interesting and all people use them crazy i dont understand sometimes

    January 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 am
  11. printing said:

    I know her first name is Andrea but I cant think of her last name for anything. She’s a Republican that argues with Bob Beckel on American’s Newsroom.

    January 4th, 2010 at 9:46 am
  12. Cartoon Bears said:

    Especially worth reading: Nieman provides “a 10-point glance at the daily and weekly routines and rules Morgan and Askins used to build one of the nation’s first sustainable, hyperlocal Web startups.”

    January 5th, 2010 at 10:22 am
  13. printing said:

    A wide variety of opinions of what a hyperlocal newsroom needs …

    January 6th, 2010 at 8:42 am
  14. facebook video said:

    Thanks to everyone for sharing.

    January 7th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
  15. Cartoon Bears said:

    Especially worth reading: Nieman provides “a 10-point glance at the daily and weekly routines and rules Morgan and Askins used to build one of the nation’s first sustainable, hyperlocal Web startups.

    January 9th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
  16. Cartoon Bears said:

    Suprisingly, one of those 10 points: “Two sets of eyes on every full story. A 5,000-word meeting story might take six hours to write and two to edit.

    January 9th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
  17. calivita said:

    thanks for you community

    January 10th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
  18. used tires said:

    There really are alot of great responses, so anything I will add will certainly not be as worthy but nonetheless I would say just keep it very centralized and try to make the community feel like what they are watching is worth it.

    Till then,

    Jean

    January 11th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
  19. printing said:

    There really are alot of great responses

    January 22nd, 2010 at 6:55 am
  20. Bidet said:

    You got a lot of responses so there isn’t much to add. Those are all great responses. Thanks for sharing them with us.

    January 24th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
  21. Cartoon Bears said:

    When used in isolation it refers to the emergent ecology of data aggregators, publication mechanism and user interactions and behaviours which centre on a resident of a location and the business of being a resident.

    February 2nd, 2010 at 5:00 am
  22. seo said:

    The Members Area is well laid out and easy to follow, it only took me a few minutes to get used to. Once inside the site, you can create links and ads. For the links simply enter any URL that you want to generate traffic for and the generator will transform them into “Web Traffic Flow” links.

    February 5th, 2010 at 8:23 am
  23. kelowna mortgages said:

    These social web sites are really interesting and all people use them crazy i dont understand sometimes.

    February 6th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
  24. youtube gir said:

    great idea, thanks for sharing.

    February 16th, 2010 at 8:46 am
  25. Turkey said:

    Thank you for information about hyperlocal newsroom.

    February 21st, 2010 at 1:20 pm
  26. kelowna mortgage said:

    Suprisingly, one of those 10 points: “Two sets of eyes on every full story. A 5,000-word meeting story might take six hours to write and two to edit.

    March 3rd, 2010 at 10:00 pm