My local paper, the Charleston Post & Courier, recently underwent a total rework, which I suspect is an effort to adapt to the growing numbers of readers who are going online for their news.
The paper made a number of changes, which I'll discuss below:
1) Narrower paper - I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect this is to save $$ as ad dollars increasingly decline with more advertisers spending online.
2) Charleston.net is on the top center of EVERY page - This of course is to drive folks to their Web site (which still needs a fair amount of help in my opinion).
3) Increased focus on local news - The paper beefed up its local news coverage with a new tabloid-style section. This is something many local papers are focusing on. Local news one thing they can provide to the reader that they can't get as well online yet. The Post & Courier also competes with smaller community papers in the area and they also added a Police Blotter section in this new tabloid, which is a popular read in a competing community paper.
Previously, the paper added a Friday 5 section, which works very closely with the Web site with a corresponding blog. Each week they detail lists of 5, such as the top 5 things to do over the weekend, and these lists often relate to technology and social media.
The site has also launched a citizen journalism component called Your Report where readers can upload their own videos, photos and news happening around them. This is an effort to join the Web 2.0 revolution where folks don't just take information from the Internet, but want to contribute to the conversation, as well.
It's very interesting to see how newspapers work hard to adapt to this changing environment in order to stay alive. I, for one, don't feel like online news can ever replace my local paper, but that might be a different story for Generation Y, who has grown up comfortable with getting most, if not all, of their information online. Good luck Post & Courier!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Local Papers Try to Adapt
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Hi, Lyn. Stumbled on this post while subscribing to Wednesday's event.
I think you've already seen the Web site we're doing (TheDigitel.com) but it, too, is an attempt to answer the shift to online news and tries to fill the needs of local readers through specialization, organization and information design.
We focus solely on things happening in, or affecting, Charleston (there are many better places online to get information on blockbuster movie reviews, China earthquakes and Washington politics).
And instead of adding more information chaos (such as The Post and Courier creating it's version of Charleston City Paper's blotter) we'll gladly yield the ground and do what the Web does best and hyperlink to what's already been done well.
"Easy. Local. Complete." it's our tag line as well as mission.
We're just getting started to so we'd love to hear your critiques as well as content suggestions.
Hi Kenneth-
Yes, I checked it out earlier. I have one question, do you produce any original content or do you just organize what's already out there? I love the 100% local concept. Look forward to meeting you Wed.
Also, I saw a notice today in the Wall Street Journal on this very topic regarding the Dallas Morning News. Apparently, they had the biggest drop in circulation of 500 daily newspapers, according to the latest numbers from the Audit Bureau of Circulation. So they plan to create what they call a "quick read" newspaper that is delivered daily to nonsubscribers for free in an attempt to increase readership and ad dollars.
From the Wall Street Journal:
"Briefing is designed for consumers who are engaged and interested in the world around them but who are not able to fit the traditional newspaper into their busy lifestyles," said John McKeon, president and general manager of the News. "They told us they wanted the most important stories of the day in an easy-to-read format, and that's what Briefing delivers."
Yes, I checked it out earlier. I have one question, do you produce any original content or do you just organize what's already out there? I love the 100% local concept. Look forward to meeting you Wed.
The primary goal is to have an organized way to access the news people need in the community. So, at first, it will mainly be to get our fingers wrapped around what's already being published and then (once we know what is missing) we'll start producing our own content.
There's an obvious value in it for readers later on, but in the initial stages it offers a way for readers to get comprehensive local reporting with links to all media sources without having to read The Post and Courier, Charleston City Paper, Charleston Magazine, and watch Live 5 News, News 4, News 2.... etc.
Plus, let's face it, the news web sites in town are appalling and do a horrible job at linking to reporting done by other publications, resource web sites, blogs, etc.
On a side note, things are pretty bad at papers these days (Ii'm a former P&C and McClatchy employee). It's downright depressing in newsrooms these days.
A funny commentary on the new "downsizing" of the Post & Courier from the Charleston City Paper.
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