Entries for month: January 2011
Outsource legacy functions to prosper
31 January 2011 · By John NewbyLike many newsmedia companies, we all wrestle with the rapid change in new and emerging technologies happening right before our eyes. If that isn't enough, the pace of change continues to accelerate further each passing day.
Where does that leave many of us — still wrestling with the most basic mobile applications and in some cases still debating whether or not to lock down our Web sites?
I believe there is only one sure path for most newsmedia companies. We must cast off the chains of all the legacy shackles you can muster by outsourcing as many tasks as possible to those that can facilitate those jobs and functions in a more efficient manner. By taking this difficult step, it financially allows us to then concentrate on what we have always done best — providing cutting edge and valuable content.
...[more]Philanthropic effort provides highly engaging content
26 January 2011 · By Sandy MacLeod
When we talk about the value of content and how quality content impacts readers, we most often think about breaking news, investigative journalism or social justice articles that make a difference in our communities. Have you ever thought about philanthropy as a way to engage readers? The Toronto Star has been connecting emotionally with readers for more 100 years during the holiday season with our Santa Claus Fund.
Toronto Star founder Joseph E. Atkinson established The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund in 1906. Atkinson knew of poverty first-hand. His father was killed in a tragic accident when he was 6 months old. Left with eight young children to raise, his mother struggled to support the family.
It was a very special Christmas in Atkinson's own childhood that brought out his dedication to help the poor. As the story goes, one day young Joseph was watching other children skate on the pond. A lady approached and asked him why he wasn't skating. When she heard his sad tale, she bought him his first pair of skates for Christmas. Atkinson never forgot the warmth and generosity of the stranger who made that Christmas Day the happiest of his childhood.
Years later, Atkinson used The Toronto Star newspaper to tell readers the stories of other needy children. He asked readers to contribute money, which was used to buy approximately 100 Christmas gifts. The gifts of fruit, candy, socks and mitts were distributed through a local Toronto church, Little Trinity.
...[more]Keep variety of content to appeal to a variety of readers
16 January 2011 · By Anne Crassweller
Everyday newspapers produce a product that contains a cornucopia of news, features and editorial culled and presented to inform and entertain their readers. Newspapers can be carried easily and read anywhere, at anytime. Reading a newspaper is a personal and engaging activity and over half of Canadian adults read a newspaper every day.
Daily newspapers are the ideal medium for today's time-starved, pick-and-choose consumers. But why should they read? And what do readers want?
News is the number one reason for reading a newspaper. However, consumer choice is the key to newspapers success, as not everyone seeks the same information or the same depth of information. In Canada, local news is the most important feature in a daily newspaper:
...[more]Tasty content spans multiple platforms
10 January 2011 · By Kathleen Coleman
Take a handsome guy with a passion for Latin American foods, mix in his broadcast background. Add an accomplished audio/video engineer/producer, and a social media savvy public relations professional. Fold in a seasoned big-city writer and reporter with vast knowledge of Hispanic history, food and culture. Top with a business partner.
Shake it, stir it. Let it rest. Promote it. Stick a fork in it: the Hispanic Food Network is ready to savor.
Mike Gonzalez, an ABC affiliate morning anchor in mid-market Spokane, Washington, turned a simple Google search for an Arroz Con Pollo (chicken and rice) recipe into a Latin American food lover’s multi-media dream.
He found the recipe. What he didn’t find was a Latin American food network akin to the omnipresent Food Network.
Why not, thought Mike?
...[more]
