Mar 15, 2007

This is not a complete list of how the news media can use blogs, but it provides several ideas for journalists who are scratching their heads about how to launch blogs that serve a purpose other than as another distribution channel for content.

(1) Solicit ideas for coverage
Make readers/viewers/listeners feel a part of the editorial process; turn a show over to them. They can participate via a blog.
Examples: BBC's World, Have Your Say and PRI's Open Source

(2) Request feedback on how to shape an editorial product
Does your news organization want to develop a new product? Ask the people who will use for input.
Examples: NPR's Rough Cuts for new show development and The Economist Group's Project Red Stripe for a new innovative web product

(3) Host public blogs
Expand coverage by allowing normal folk to share news in their neighborhoods as well as their opinions, photos, analysis, and news.
Examples: Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, Utah's Daily Herald, and Fox 13 in Salt Lake City

(4) Provide ongoing coverage
Allow reporters and producers to continue covering a story that may not make it to print or air all the time.
Example: The New Yorker's New Orleans Journal

(5) Foster interaction between journalists and citizens
Enable normal folk to hold journalists — especially commentators — accountable for their work.
Example: The Guardian's Comment is Free

(6) Cheaply report news about niche interests
People are interested in fishing, knitting, and wine. Why not regularly cover these interests with a blog?
Examples: USA Today's Today in the Sky for airline junkies, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Venture Blog about venture capital and startups, and The Sydney Morning Herald's The Backpacker for international backpacking travel

(7) Request help from the public on covering a story
Need help covering a story or digging up data? Ask the public for information and assistance.
Example: ABC's The Blotter — think about the Mark Foley Scandal

(8) Get experts to interact
Blogs are a great way for experts to interact together to discuss an issue. A blog is a platform where the public can see the debate and the nuances of their arguments and disagreements.
Example: The Washington Post's Post Global

(9) Get non-journalists to report on their areas of expertise
Not all experts or eyewitnesses are journalists, and even non-journalists have much to offer an editorial product.
Example: The Washington Post's and Newsweek's On Faith

(10) Provide sneak peaks of upcoming stories
Tease the public on what's to come.
Examples: CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Blog and NPR's Blog of the Nation

(11) Allow journos to share their interests and passions
Journalists are best when they are personable so that the public can relate to them.
Example: France 24's Inside the Newsroom

(12) Share internal memos and briefings with the public
Some people in the public love to see what notes are passed around in the newsroom.
Example: CNN's Political Ticker

(13) Defend editorial decisions
Not everyone is happy about how a story is covered — or not, for that matter. Defend these decisions or reveal the internal debate about how a story was handled via a blog.
Example: BBC's The Editors

(14) Provide case studies for issues of public interest
How can a news organization provide a case study about an issue that it covers? By using a blog.
Example: Men's Health's The Bret Baier Project tracks how a Fox News correspondent sheds some pounds

(15) Share what you're reading
What are newsroom staffers reading? Perhaps the public would like to read these items as well.
Example: The American's Marketplace of Ideas

(16) Publish content that didn't make it on air or in print
If your organization gathered and prepared content that wasn't released, why not post it to a blog if it is otherwise fine? The investment was already made.

http://ciberjornalismo.com/pontomedia/?p=1827 Ponto Media » Usos de blogs pelos media

[...] UM POST com interessantes exemplos de como os media estão a usar blogs: 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs. [...]
http://danblank.com/blog/2007/03/15/using-blogs-for-reporting/ Dan Blank: Publishing, Innovation and the Web » Blog Archive » Journalistic Uses for Blogs

[...] The Bivings Report gives us 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs. On their list: [...]
http://www.blognetnews.com David Mastio

Why not run a site like BlogNetNews.com that aggregates all the best local blogs in one place so readers can quickly see what is going in the local blogosphere and visit the sites where they see interesting content?
http://www.blognetnews.com David Mastio

Why not run a site like BlogNetNews.com that aggregates all the best local blogs in one place so readers can quickly see what is going in the local blogosphere and visit the sites where they see interesting content?
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

David,

Thanks for your comment and idea. I know that my list isn’t comprehensive — hence, the disclaimer at top. You’re idea is just as valid as any of mine.

While the point of this post was not to address interaction between the media and citizens, I hope that news sites that do aggregate posts from the local blogosphere don’t simply view such an effort as sufficient acknowledgment of bloggers. I would also concede that my third idea of hosting public blogs has a similar potential to give journalists an unfounded feeling that they’re interacting with bloggers.

Newsers need to interact with bloggers and not simply display their content.

By the way, Pluck offers a similar aggregating service with its BlogBurst.
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

David,

Thanks for your comment and idea. I know that my list isn’t comprehensive — hence, the disclaimer at top. You’re idea is just as valid as any of mine.

While the point of this post was not to address interaction between the media and citizens, I hope that news sites that do aggregate posts from the local blogosphere don’t simply view such an effort as sufficient acknowledgment of bloggers. I would also concede that my third idea of hosting public blogs has a similar potential to give journalists an unfounded feeling that they’re interacting with bloggers.

Newsers need to interact with bloggers and not simply display their content.

By the way, Pluck offers a similar aggregating service with its BlogBurst.
http://www.BusinessBlogWire.com Easton Ellsworth

Excellent list, Steve!
http://www.BusinessBlogWire.com Easton Ellsworth

Excellent list, Steve!
http://www.blognetnews.com David Mastio

Steve, I certainly agree with your hope “that news sites that do aggregate posts from the local blogosphere don’t simply view such an effort as sufficient acknowledgment of bloggers.” No one thing will do the trick.

I do disagree with you in equating BlogNetNews.com and BlogBurst. As I have seen BlogBurst implmented (for instance in USA Today’s technology section) it is about reprinting a selection of posts that have been selected by an editor at the paper.

My view, and maybe I am wrong, is that the value of blogs is the conversation that goes on in comments and in linking between bloggers.

BlogNetNews.com is an effort to capture that conversation and point readers to where it is happening — and where they can be a part of it. That’s why BNN doesn’t reprint more than a short excerpt of posts.
http://www.blognetnews.com David Mastio

Steve, I certainly agree with your hope “that news sites that do aggregate posts from the local blogosphere don’t simply view such an effort as sufficient acknowledgment of bloggers.” No one thing will do the trick.

I do disagree with you in equating BlogNetNews.com and BlogBurst. As I have seen BlogBurst implmented (for instance in USA Today’s technology section) it is about reprinting a selection of posts that have been selected by an editor at the paper.

My view, and maybe I am wrong, is that the value of blogs is the conversation that goes on in comments and in linking between bloggers.

BlogNetNews.com is an effort to capture that conversation and point readers to where it is happening — and where they can be a part of it. That’s why BNN doesn’t reprint more than a short excerpt of posts.
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

David,

Interesting points. Both BNN and BlogBurst do aggregate and present blog posts on news sites, but BlogBurst seems to limit the conservation power to that. The post appears on the site in its entirety. I wonder how many people actually click through to the actual blog…

Hopefully, BNN lures people from the news site into the blogosphere to witness the conversation of comments and links better than BlogBurst.
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

David,

Interesting points. Both BNN and BlogBurst do aggregate and present blog posts on news sites, but BlogBurst seems to limit the conservation power to that. The post appears on the site in its entirety. I wonder how many people actually click through to the actual blog…

Hopefully, BNN lures people from the news site into the blogosphere to witness the conversation of comments and links better than BlogBurst.
http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/16-ways-the-news-media-can-use-blogs/ 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs « Online Journalism Blog

[...] March 15th, 2007 I like lists, and this is a great one – with linked examples to boot [...]
http://www.cosmedia.co.za/my-delicious-bookmarks-for-15-march/ My del.icio.us bookmarks for 15 March | Gino Cosme

[...] 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs Â» The Bivings Report – Some ideas to help traditional media guys figure out how to launch blogs that serve a purpose. [...]
http://davidblack.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/links-for-2007-03-16/ links for 2007-03-16 « David Black

[...] 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs » The Bivings Report Ideas for different ways for newspapers to harness blogging, with examples. (tags: internet newspapers participatory journalism citizenmedia blogging) [...]
http://www.martinstabe.com/blog/2007/03/16/links-for-2007-03-16/ Martin Stabe » links for 2007-03-16

[...] The Bivings Report: 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs Some ideas about how traditional media companies can use blogs to enhance their journalism. (tags: blogging blogs citizenJournalism Journalism online) [...]
http://www.hipertextos.com.ar/?p=100 Hipertextos [desde La Plata] » 16 maneras de usar blogs

[...] The Biving Report publicó un interesante artículo que propone algunas ideas, sobre todo a periodistas o editores, para integrar los blogs a los medios. Está en inglés pero es muy simples y los ejemplos que propone clarifican. « Mostrarse [...]
http://www.journalistopia.com Danny Sanchez

This is a great list. News orgs are great at producing content, but unfortunately lousy at playing in the sandbox with everyone else.

Also, shameless plug alert: The Orlando Sentinel also has a group of blogs written by the public at OrlandoSentinel.com/community.
http://www.journalistopia.com Danny Sanchez

This is a great list. News orgs are great at producing content, but unfortunately lousy at playing in the sandbox with everyone else.

Also, shameless plug alert: The Orlando Sentinel also has a group of blogs written by the public at OrlandoSentinel.com/community.
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

Thanks Danny for link. We appreciate getting more examples of how news organizations are using blogs. That makes this post an even better resource.
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

Thanks Danny for link. We appreciate getting more examples of how news organizations are using blogs. That makes this post an even better resource.
http://reportr.wordpress.com/2007/03/17/the-many-reasons-why-journalists-should-blog/ The many reasons why journalists should blog « reportr.net

[...] If you are still skeptical about blogs, have a read of the 16 ways the news media can use blogs. Best of all, there are links to examples from news organisations as diverse as the BBC, NPR, The Sydney Morning Herald and Men’s Health. [...]
http://www.pluto-online.com/editorsblog Ed Walker

After reading this post over on Paul Bradshaw’s blog, that linked to 16 ways the news media use blogging…

I thought this might be a good time to just take stock and for all those asking ‘why do we need a pluto-online editor’s blog?’ – to answer that question….

http://www.pluto-online.com/ed.....sblog/?p=5
http://www.pluto-online.com/editorsblog Ed Walker

After reading this post over on Paul Bradshaw’s blog, that linked to 16 ways the news media use blogging…

I thought this might be a good time to just take stock and for all those asking ‘why do we need a pluto-online editor’s blog?’ – to answer that question….

http://www.pluto-online.com/ed.....sblog/?p=5
http://blog.freakjob.com Jonathan Karpfen

Hey Steve,

Great ideas. Have you read about the “Zero Assignment” initiative just launched by Jay Rosen and the people at NewAssignment.net?

Definitely worth a look in regards to this topic!

JK
http://blog.freakjob.com Jonathan Karpfen

Hey Steve,

Great ideas. Have you read about the “Zero Assignment” initiative just launched by Jay Rosen and the people at NewAssignment.net?

Definitely worth a look in regards to this topic!

JK
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

Jonathan,

Yes, I’m aware of Assignment Zero; it is an interesting project. Since we’re interested in how the news media use the Internet, we’ll probably write posts about it from time to time.

Thanks for the heads up.
http://www.bivingsreport.com/ Steve

Jonathan,

Yes, I’m aware of Assignment Zero; it is an interesting project. Since we’re interested in how the news media use the Internet, we’ll probably write posts about it from time to time.

Thanks for the heads up.
http://www.pluto-online.com/editorsblog/?p=5 pluto-online editor’s blog » Blog Archive » Why are we doing this blog?

[...] After reading this post over on Paul Bradshaw’s blog, that linked to 16 ways the news media use blogging… [...]
http://renaissancechambara.com/blog/2007/03/20/links-for-2007-03-19-my-web-20/ ::::renaissance chambara:::: » Blog Archive » Links for 2007-03-19 [My Web 2.0]

[...] 16 Ways The News Media Can Use Blogs » The Bivings Report [...]
http://fernandarubio.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/hoy-por-la-manana-me-levante-pensando/ [EL MIRADOR] Hoy por la mañana me levanté pensando… «

[...] En ese sentido sería interesante que quienes estén en esta situación puedan postular a sus jefes que es posible hacer cambios, al menos según este post hay 16 maneras en que los medios pueden utilizar blogs (eso sí sería una motivación!!!). [...]
http://nxtbook.com/blog/2007/03/22/now-that-youve-got-a-blog-what-are-you-going-to-do-with-it/ NXTblog – The blog of NXTbook Media » Blog Archive » Now That You’ve Got a Blog, What are You Going to Do With it?

[...] Here’s a good one: 16 Ways the News Media Can Use Blogs. A quick sample: [...]
http://www.fealty.net/?p=22 16 things a paper can do with blogs…

[...] Whilst we’ve seen a slow (and radical) shift in the way British papers have put their toes in the blogosphere water, Irish papers have still, by and large, to take the plunge. The Bivings Report has some starter tips for nervous editors, particularly those with sceptical boards. Filed Under Media, Blogosphere, Journalism [...]
http://www.mondoblog.it/2007/06/20/fast-links-collection-num-53/ Fast Links Collection – Num 53 | MondoBlog

[...] 16 modi con cui i nuovi media possono usare il blogging [...]
http://www.aluisiosaboya.com/2007/08/17/o-papel-dos-blogs-como-midia/ O papel dos blogs como mídia

[...] logo em transformar colunistas em blogueiros, enquanto existem outras formas de usar a ferramenta [ http://www.bivingsreport.com/2.....use-blogs/. Como contornar essa situação? Ou o melhor uso é realmente transformar colunistas em [...]

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