I start most days at the office clearing my messages then checking our Web site. I check for breaking news and Liz Fabian’s morning update, and I like to see which online stories from the previous day were most popular with readers. Online Editor Beth McFadyen posts that information in a list of "top stories at macon.com."
The list sometimes fuels discussion during our daily newspaper critique and when we’re selecting front-page content for the next day’s edition. The conversations can be alternately fascinating and frustrating.
Some people tell me that what and how people read online doesn't necessarily translate to how they consume newspaper content. As a matter of practice, the lead story in The Telegraph often is not the lead story at macon.com.
It’s not hard to predict the kinds of stories that make the Top 10 list online: crime of all sorts, with news of the bizarre not far behind. Sure, other types of stories make the list. Reports of business openings and closings tend to generate a lot of page views. Sports news (any news about the selection of UGA’s famous mascot, for instance), and certain local government stories do pretty well, too. But nothing is as predictable as crime-related stories.
Crime news typically helps newspaper sales, too, but we don’t build our front page based on that knowledge. We offer variety, from watchdog journalism to feature and trend stories. But I can’t say that online results don’t influence those decisions, even if the influence is subtle.
Should what we know about our online readers be instructive to newspaper editors, who, frankly, want folks to keep buying the newspaper? What is it you look for at macon.com and how is it the same as, or different from, what you look for in the newspaper?
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Web site vs. the newspaper
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5 comments:
we want the news all of it descriptions of suspects including race
the other discussion board was set up a lot better as
i guess you have seen
lots of us are still communicating on the old one and other boards
Hi Sherrie..the world of 'blog' is interesting. I grew up with actual phone calls and letters to 'talk' to friends/family. The different topics of today's world are daunting, and over whelming. I, for one, appreciate this venue to forward an opinion. I also appreciate the chance to use the L2E venue via the newspaper. I hope that all concerned use their best judgement and present the issues with balance. Balance, sometimes doesn't mean 'unbiased'. Balance, means both sides are shown.
I have noticed some small town newspapers refuse to acknowledge Mr. Obama's win last Tues. I live in Hawkinsville and I bought a Hawkinsville Dispatch newspaper last Wed. I noticed the announcement was not put in the paper. The headline was about the win of Saxby Chambliss and Jim Marshall, when actually there is a run off for the senate race. The newspaper made sure it was known how many votes each presidential candidate received in Pulaski County. I don't know if this was racially motivated or not. I just know it bothers me.
I think there is a place for both venues, at least for people of my generation and the baby boomers. But I can't see my grandchildren actually buying and reading papers when they grow up. Neither my son or my daughter (in their forties) read any newspaper now on a regular basis, getting all their news electronically in whatever form.
I'm a 7 day subscriber, but least favorite editions are Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday (shrunken or missing editorial pages. ;(
Oh, and font size in some of the comics on Sunday are way too small which others are plenty large. Some evening out of the sizes would be nice.
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