25th Edition Spectacular: What Have We Learned?
On the occasion of our first 25 newsletters, a look at some of the people who have given us great advice
Remote Notes usually follows a format: We like to interview someone in media, then we incorporate news, links and other material. But, on the occasion of our 25th newsletter, we’re looking back at some of the best wisdom our subjects and contributors have shared.
STARTING A LOCAL NEWS OUTLET: Ally Donnelly, an independent reporter, runs a hyperlocal podcast in her community of Hingham, Mass. She gave a great reply to the question of the difference between “local” and “hyperlocal” news:
My definition of “hyperlocal” is news or coverage that is hyper focused on one community or one small, geographic area. You and I both worked in “local news,” but that was a pretty broad swath … Hyperlocal is much more intimate. You’re looking at how global, national, regional and truly local news is affecting your community. It’s thrilling actually, to connect with your community in such a granular way …
Although the term gets overused, Ally is right on the mark. Your newspaper or TV newscast isn’t hyperlocal. We need more community-centric news like the podcast Ally produces.
Some newsies have started their own local and hyperlocal sites. In truth, many have failed because there’s just not enough advertising money to go around. But some sites, like Don Day’s BoiseDev, are a big hit. How did Don turn his Idaho website into a news business?
Focus on the money. I don't mean that to be flippant. But it's all about revenue. We have more than two dozen advertisers (all local) and our membership program is strong. This was 100% bootstrapped by me and my wife, so there are no outside investors and no debt. We cashflow every single month and have healthy reserves. In short, I just really pay attention to building month by month.
… we also don't cover crime or fires or car crashes. And we're intently focused on enterprise reporting. We don’t run a lot of news release stuff, nor do we engage in chasing other outlets. We "play our game" which means focusing on what we can do to add to the conversation.
GETTING NEUTRAL NEWS: One of our first interviews was with Mike Milhaven, Executive Producer, Morning News Now on NBC News Now. Milhaven is a proponent of unbiased news.
I actually think people are hungry for news without an ideology. There is a large audience that just wants to know what’s going on in the world and they’re capable of drawing their own conclusions from there. We’re seeing that on News Now. We present the news, straightforward, no opinion, (and) no shouting heads …
Agreed, in full. However, it can be difficult to convince some people that your news operation is neutral. Some journalists argue it’s impossible to be truly neutral. But providing unbiased news is an admirable goal.
Former Boston anchor Mike Nikitas now teaches about the media at UNH and Brandeis.
IMAGE: Mike Nikitas
Mike has seen a lot of changes in the 35+ years he’s been in journalism. And Mike admits local news has its flaws:
I don’t watch too much local news anymore. I don’t find it terribly relevant to my life, except for maybe the weather. Maybe it’s just generational. But obviously people are watching, because local stations continue to exist and even grow, despite the explosion in online news sources. I do tend to trust local TV news more than the national cable channels, because I believe the locals have less incentive to offer opinion.
ON TRAFFIC AND WEATHER: We had a spirited debate for a couple of weeks on the role of traffic and weather reporting on TV news. I argued that the time for such segments has passed — we have traffic and weather apps that update faster than TV reports can, and social media gives us headlines and pictures during storms. But media consultant Kevin Benz, a subscriber, wrote me in defense of TV reporting…
IMAGE: Kevin Benz
News consumption for TV, TV news websites and apps is still almost double that of social and we know it is FAR more trusted. I think we need to recognize that it’s almost impossible to avoid getting news on social media if you are on it.
I agree — you can’t get a full story from social media. I liken social media to newsroom scanners; you’ll get some tips and ideas, but never publish unverified information.
Former traffic reporter Scott Montminy had an insightful take he shared in our Facebook comments section:
I agree that the lower deck of 93 being wide open at 5 a.m. is not terribly newsworthy, but it’s still something I want to know as I sip my coffee and contemplate my departure — just like a weather report saying I don’t need an umbrella- not terribly fascinating, but still noteworthy.
… there are many times (when a traffic app tells) only half the story. For example, a two-car crash might not cause a big backup until the emergency crews arrive, so sensors (like GPS-enabled mobile phones driving thru the area and algorithms calculating average real-time speeds) tell you things are fine (“all green” on the map), but folks in the traffic center and airborne reporters can tell you otherwise.
I like that Scott added the human element to all of this. He makes a good point, too: How many times have you seen incorrect information on your GPS? I see mistakes all the time. I regularly see a message saying “Accident in X Miles,” only to pass the site and see nothing.
HOLD LOCAL NEWS ACCOUNTABLE: As a viewer, you have more power than you may realize when it comes to influencing the local news. Every day, news managers meet to answer one question: “What are people talking about today?” Many news directors want to hear from you. As I wrote:
I have witnessed the power that one letter can accomplish. And yes, I mean letter. Newsrooms are flooded with email. Send a letter, stamp and all, to a news director or general manager (their names and addresses are on station websites) if you feel a station covered a story unfairly.
Now, I don’t mean you should write to a station if they didn’t cover your favorite politician the way you wanted. I mean you should write the station, with specific examples, if they aren’t covering your community in a way that you believe reflects its true values. Don’t be negative or insulting; have suggestions on positive stories to cover.
(Forgive me for quoting myself.)
One commenter added an excellent point: Journalists have a responsibility to hold their newsrooms accountable as well. Bring great local story ideas with you into the meetings. Quality reporting begets quality reporting. Reporters want interesting assignments. And the audience is tired of sensationalism.
HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL DIGITAL PRESENCE: We’ve had social media in the mainstream for more than 15 years now. The audience expects reporters and stations not just to have a social presence, but to interact. Lots of stations will post a story on Facebook. People then comment - but it’s rare to see the TV station (or newspaper, or reporter) comment in return. Social media is a conversation, not a lecture.
We spoke with Spartanburg, SC, anchor Amy Wood, who has used the internet and social media as an integral part of her career.
IMAGE: Amy Wood
More than anything I’ve always been a connector and digital/social media arrived on scene to make that easier than ever to achieve. I still love to go to a church or school and speak but, instantly in a live stream, I can reach several hundred to 1,000 people and have a personal interaction with them. It’s “public appearances” on steroids. From that you get a special relationship with your audience , story ideas news tips, etc.
Amy also spoke about the need to keep communicating with the audience. “Social media is personal, and connecting with an anchor or reporter is something that both the audience and the anchors/reporters want to sustain,” Amy wrote. “They want to follow our career paths and they want to stay in touch.”
Meantime, KDKA Director of Digital Media John P. Wise is a big fan of great content. We asked “What elements make for a great news website?”
I'd be an idiot if I didn't say content first. If you offer great content, you will never lack for customers/readers. Is your content relevant/informative/timely/provocative? Also, are you a trusted provider of news and information? If you are a television station's companion site, you are probably viewed the same way that the station is, in terms of brand, credibility and reputation
GET INTO PODCASTING: Podcast production studios are starting to pop up. Their business model can vary, but the goal is to produce podcasts for paying clients. Some independents, like Boston’s Zuri Berry, offer marketing advice as well.
Others, like pod617’s David Yas, point to their high-quality production skills.
The podcasts that we produce shoot high. We try to add creative touches, packaging, sound effects and other devices that make them a must-listen. With some elbow grease, planning, thought and, yes, talent, for a relatively humble budget, you can produce a show that is as good as anything on the internet.
It’s a little more difficult than David lets on — a good audio editor isn’t hard to find, but a great one is, and the difference can be in the hundreds of dollars per episode, if not more. Every journalist should learn audio and video editing.
BEYOND THE REMOTE
ADVERTISING: Sponsor Remote Notes for $25 a week. You’ll be seen by lots of folks in the journalism/podcasting business and other media-savvy people. For more information, hit the “Email Me” button below.
SUBSCRIBE: If you’re reading this on our website and would like to sign up for the newsletter, please do so. It’s quick and easy. You don’t have to pay a thing, but if you want to support independent journalism, I encourage you to consider paying $30 a year for Remote Notes. Thank you.
REMOTE NOTES
Newsletter #25!
Copyright 2022
STM
-30-