The Web site vs. the newspaper

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?

Macon.com changes designed just for you

If you’re reading this blog, you’ve seen the new macon.com.

Yes, we’ve changed, because we believed we could make your online user experience better.

It’s been a few years since we redesigned our Web site, and it was time for an update. We wanted to make it easier to use, and we wanted to make it more attractive. We believe we’ve accomplished both.

We have streamlined the home page, providing a hierarchy of the most important news of the day, complemented by easy-to-find links to a wide variety of content, from local news to restaurant reviews. We have updated all sections of the site, and provided more and better spaces for our advertisers.

We’ve experienced tremendous growth at macon.com over the past year. More people are visiting the site each day. They are viewing more pages and spending more time per visit. We believe macon.com is the go-to site for breaking news, but it is also the pre-eminent site for in-depth local news for Middle Georgians and people interested in Middle Georgia. Our goal is to provide even more content throughout the day and to make it easier for users to find what they need when they need it.

Online manager Ryan Gilchrest has been the leader in our redesign efforts. He is very much in tune with the latest developments in online content management and the tools needed to make our online site as accessible and user-friendly as possible. In short, he makes sure that everything works. Meanwhile, Beth MacFadyen, Senior Editor for Online News, ensures that visitors get the most current news as quickly as possible and that the site is rich with other kinds of local content, whether photo galleries from our award-winning photo staff and our readers, or video from multimedia reporter Liz Fabian.

Visitors expect to get fresh and unique content at macon.com and we aim to deliver.

As with any new endeavor, the new and improved macon.com may take some getting used to. We’ve prepared a video and photo presentation on the site to guide you through the changes. In addition, there is a list of frequently asked questions, and as readers pose new questions, we’ll add those to the list.

We hope you continue to find macon.com and The Telegraph the place to go for news, entertainment and advertising. Let us know what you think about the changes. Send your comments or questions to www.macon.com/feedback.

Go to macon.com to listen to audio webcast of WRALL regional games

Newspapers, including this one, are often accused of reporting bad news in excess. Our coverage of the Warner Robins American Little Leaguers' quest to repeat as world champs is anything but bad news, but, yes, I've heard the word excess used in connection with our coverage so far.

We'll take the criticism. We're having a good time writing about 12 young men and their coach having the time of their lives. We put their faces on the front page of the newspaper. We'll have stories throughout the weekend. If they continue to play well, we'll have coverage all next week.

Beginning Saturday, the first day of the Southeast regionals in Florida, The Telegraph will provide an audio webcast of the game. Warner Robins faces Tennessee at 1 p.m. Listeners can go to macon.com and hear sports writer and columnist Mike Lough's account of the on-the-field action. Reporter Joe Kovac, who covered the WR team last year, will also be on hand. Joe and Photographer Jason Vorhees also will provide daily updates on macon.com and coverage in The Telegraph.

We hope you enjoy the coverage -- in excess.


LOOKING TO SPOTLIGHT PEOPLE DOING GOOD

In all seriousness, Telegraph editors listen to criticism of all sorts, and we've heard plenty of it lately. A commom criticism is that we (and newspapers in general) print bad news because it sells, and that we ignore so much good that happens. In fact, we strive to find and tell stories of people doing good. One of my favorite appeared on Page One last Saturday, and was written by Amy Leigh Womack.

It was the story of two Macon firefighters who responded to a house fire near Pio Nono. Two young children were in the fully-engulfed home. The firefighters wanted to go in to save the boys. The firefighters’ supervisor gave them 30 seconds to attempt a rescue.

They found the children, but it was too late to save their lives. (Three people have been charged with murder and arson in connection with the fire.)

I imagine firefighters are trained for circumstances such as this. Nonetheless, our community should be grateful for such remarkable public servants. No matter the training, entering that house could have cost more lives.

If you know of people doing remarkable work in the community, call our tipsline at 478-744-4636 or e-mail me at smarshall@macon.com


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES?

Much of what The Telegaph publishes about the presidential race is provided by our wire services. That coverage is important, but it doesn't always reflect the issues and concerns of the people in our coverage area. As we plan to focus our attention -- and yours -- on the race in the coming months, we'd like to hear what you want to know about the candidates and their positions. Again, e-mail me at smarshall@macon.com.