Comments on: Why Newspaper Blogs Don’t Work http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:06:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: RyMar1030 http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-73086 RyMar1030 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:27:06 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-73086 Maybe a generalization but blogging and reporting are completely different writing styles. The papers are dying because they lack the entertainment value of blogs. http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2008/06/23/seattle-dailies-in-worse-shape-than-twin-cities-dailies/ Maybe a generalization but blogging and reporting are completely different writing styles. The papers are dying because they lack the entertainment value of blogs.

http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2008/06/23/seattle-dailies-in-worse-shape-than-twin-cities-dailies/

]]> By: Andrew Grant-Adamson http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5179 Andrew Grant-Adamson Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:43:31 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5179 Good blogs are clearly apppealing to online newspaper readers are are providing a valuable part of the traffic. But there are still far to many of the kind you identify which serve little purpose. In January I suggested <a>five tests</a> for a newspaper blog: 1. Does it do anything which cannot better be done in another section of the site? 2. Does it develop the paper’s interaction with the readers? 3. Does it gain a valuable audience? (A particular niche, readers who are new to the paper etc.) 4. Can you give the blogger sufficient time to blog successfully? 5. Have you chosen a writer or writers who have the aptitude to blog successfully? Good blogs are clearly apppealing to online newspaper readers are are providing a valuable part of the traffic. But there are still far to many of the kind you identify which serve little purpose. In January I suggested five tests for a newspaper blog:

1. Does it do anything which cannot better be done in another section of the site?
2. Does it develop the paper’s interaction with the readers?
3. Does it gain a valuable audience? (A particular niche, readers who are new to the paper etc.)
4. Can you give the blogger sufficient time to blog successfully?
5. Have you chosen a writer or writers who have the aptitude to blog successfully?

]]> By: Edward Vielmetti http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5130 Edward Vielmetti Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:15:55 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5130 $2.50 CPM is pretty low; I'll bet Business 2.0 gets a nice multiple of that for ads placed on those blogs. Still, it's nice to see a feedback loop between site popularity and author compensation, though you wonder if there will start to be perverse incentives that degenerate into Digg-style tabloid headlines to draw in readers. $2.50 CPM is pretty low; I’ll bet Business 2.0 gets a nice multiple of that for ads placed on those blogs. Still, it’s nice to see a feedback loop between site popularity and author compensation, though you wonder if there will start to be perverse incentives that degenerate into Digg-style tabloid headlines to draw in readers.

]]> By: Dan Blank: Publishing, Innovation and the Web » Blog Archive » The Secret Ingredient for Successful Blogging: Passion http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5047 Dan Blank: Publishing, Innovation and the Web » Blog Archive » The Secret Ingredient for Successful Blogging: Passion Tue, 10 Apr 2007 09:42:29 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5047 [...] Evans shares his thoughts on journalists’ adoption of blogging: “Fundamentally, most reporters writing blogs are doing so because they have to do it; not [...] [...] Evans shares his thoughts on journalists’ adoption of blogging: “Fundamentally, most reporters writing blogs are doing so because they have to do it; not [...]

]]> By: BobH http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5035 BobH Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:04:21 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5035 I'll tell you what doesn't work: Making generalizations like this one. The very good newspaper reporters DO have a passion for their subject matter, and it shows in their blogs. And unlike many bloggers, they have direct knowledge of their subject matter, not simply knowledge derived from reading a lot of other people's reporting. Are they all good, or all better than non-newspaper blogs? Of course not. That would be making a weak generalization. I’ll tell you what doesn’t work: Making generalizations like this one. The very good newspaper reporters DO have a passion for their subject matter, and it shows in their blogs. And unlike many bloggers, they have direct knowledge of their subject matter, not simply knowledge derived from reading a lot of other people’s reporting.

Are they all good, or all better than non-newspaper blogs? Of course not. That would be making a weak generalization.

]]> By: Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Saturday squibs http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5011 Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Saturday squibs Sat, 07 Apr 2007 16:50:07 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5011 [...] Why Newspaper Blogs Don’t Work. Mark Evans has some thoughts. Short version: It’s all about passion. An aside: I’m not sure why more newspapers don’t use blogs for some of their storytelling. [...] [...] Why Newspaper Blogs Don’t Work. Mark Evans has some thoughts. Short version: It’s all about passion. An aside: I’m not sure why more newspapers don’t use blogs for some of their storytelling. [...]

]]> By: Marilyn Terrell http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5003 Marilyn Terrell Fri, 06 Apr 2007 20:42:04 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5003 Two of our younger staff members lobbied hard to create a blog for our magazine (National Geographic Traveler), and the results have been very gratifying. They do it because they love it, not because they have to, and I think that makes all the difference. Two of our younger staff members lobbied hard to create a blog for our magazine (National Geographic Traveler), and the results have been very gratifying. They do it because they love it, not because they have to, and I think that makes all the difference.

]]> By: BUMPzee Links: Good Friday, April 6th, 2007 | Jim Kukral Online Marketing Consulting 1-888-BLOG-BIZ http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5002 BUMPzee Links: Good Friday, April 6th, 2007 | Jim Kukral Online Marketing Consulting 1-888-BLOG-BIZ Fri, 06 Apr 2007 20:39:48 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5002 [...] Mark Evens Wonders Why Newspaper Blogs Don’t Work Mark, is it that reporters don’t like the “more work” part of writing the blog, or that it’s a “blog”? BumpZeeIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed, or via email on the right of this page. Thanks for visiting!Popularity: 3% [?] var bz_url='http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimkukral.com%2Fbumpzee-links-good-friday-april-6th-2007%2F'; var bz_num_comments=0; var bz_comment_date=''; Make money with Jim!: Earn 10% with Chitika's Referral Program. Jim Recommends: Affiliate marketing resource: A Practical Guide To Affiliate Marketing. The current Top Banana is: Click to find out! Date: Apr 6th, 2007 · Comments RSS [...] [...] Mark Evens Wonders Why Newspaper Blogs Don’t Work Mark, is it that reporters don’t like the “more work” part of writing the blog, or that it’s a “blog”? BumpZeeIf you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed, or via email on the right of this page. Thanks for visiting!Popularity: 3% [?] var bz_url=’http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimkukral.com%2Fbumpzee-links-good-friday-april-6th-2007%2F’; var bz_num_comments=0; var bz_comment_date=”; Make money with Jim!: Earn 10% with Chitika’s Referral Program. Jim Recommends: Affiliate marketing resource: A Practical Guide To Affiliate Marketing. The current Top Banana is: Click to find out! Date: Apr 6th, 2007 · Comments RSS [...]

]]> By: George Phenix http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5001 George Phenix Fri, 06 Apr 2007 20:34:02 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-5001 Blogging is not the best use of the Net by newspapers. Instead, newspapers should focus on the opportunities the Internet offers to expand news coverage into areas of genuine importance to readers. Forget (largely) about international news because it is available 24/7 on either cable or the Net -- long before the newspaper is delivered. Concentrate on municipal government, education, neighborhoods, etc. The newspaper business model is changing all right. But blogging is just one more layer of opinion. And the readers want stuff that is real in their lives. Not more BS. Blogging is not the best use of the Net by newspapers. Instead, newspapers should focus on the opportunities the Internet offers to expand news coverage into areas of genuine importance to readers. Forget (largely) about international news because it is available 24/7 on either cable or the Net — long before the newspaper is delivered. Concentrate on municipal government, education, neighborhoods, etc.

The newspaper business model is changing all right. But blogging is just one more layer of opinion. And the readers want stuff that is real in their lives. Not more BS.

]]> By: Bill Blunt http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-4989 Bill Blunt Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:07:23 +0000 http://markevanstech.com/2007/04/05/why-newspaper-blog-dont-work/#comment-4989 As a newcomer to the world of blogs, I find myself agreeing with you. It's a brave man that accuses Bill Blunt of being a technophobe, but if, in my day, I'd been asked to not only write my regular columns but also construct a blog, I know I would have been onto the NUJ pronto! It's one thing for me to pen a few random rambles now that I've formally hung up my quill, but if anyone had expected me to write a regular blog on top of my columns in the Birkenhead Beagle, they would have seen the sharp side of my tongue. I can't imagine Johnny Mercer or Freddy Marples would have stood for it, either! Yours for a better standard of journalism, Bill Blunt As a newcomer to the world of blogs, I find myself agreeing with you. It’s a brave man that accuses Bill Blunt of being a technophobe, but if, in my day, I’d been asked to not only write my regular columns but also construct a blog, I know I would have been onto the NUJ pronto!

It’s one thing for me to pen a few random rambles now that I’ve formally hung up my quill, but if anyone had expected me to write a regular blog on top of my columns in the Birkenhead Beagle, they would have seen the sharp side of my tongue.

I can’t imagine Johnny Mercer or Freddy Marples would have stood for it, either!

Yours for a better standard of journalism,

Bill Blunt

]]>