Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Crowdsourcing tips and tools for journalists (Digital Ninja School Session with Mandy Jenkins)


Crowdsourcing has always been a fundamental of journalism. But there are now countless digital tools and resources available on the internet and through social media that make it that much more immediate, and accessible.

For journalists learning the latest tools and tips on crowdsourcing in the digital age, this is a great opportunity to learn more about it.

Mandy Jenkins of Digital First Media will be leading a workshop in the New Haven Register newsroom for the Journal Register Company's Digital Ninja program in Connecticut crowdsourcing tips and tools.

Update: This session has concluded. Replay the live chat below. Video replay will be uploaded later this week.

Jenkins will lead reporters, editors and photographers from JRC's CT newsrooms in a discussion on crowdsourcing tips, tools and tricks of the trade. The session is part of our program to equip our journalists and editors with today's digital skills.

Social Media As The Brand For Journalists (Digital Ninja School Session with Mandy Jenkins)

Like newspapers, radio, TV, and the internet before it - social media has become a major way in how people get news, information and stories on topics that interest them. How can newspapers tap into Facebook and Twitter as a brand to serve their reader and followers? How can newsrooms use social media for more than just broadcasting links to stories? Should you use differently as a brand than you would as an individual? Can the brand's Facebook be a source of news tips, a platform for community conversation, a more comprehensive information resource for our audience?

For the editors and journalists learning to effectively wield social media as a brand, this is a great opportunity to learn more about using social media successfully as a brand to grow audience and engage readers.

Mandy Jenkins of Digital First Media will be leading a workshop in the New Haven Register newsroom for the Journal Register Company's Digital Ninja program in Connecticut on social media as the brand.

Update: This session has concluded. Replay the live chat below. Video replay will be uploaded later this week.

Jenkins will lead reporters, editors and photographers from JRC's CT newsrooms in a discussion on best practices for engaging on social media as the brand. The session is part of our program to equip our journalists and editors with today's digital skills.

Monday, May 21, 2012

How To Host Successful Live Chats And Live Blogs (Digital Ninja School Session with Mandy Jenkins)

In this day and age, it's a piece of cake to host your very own live chat or report live from an event that thousands of people from all over the world can watch and participate in. All you need is a free tool like CoverItLive or a Twitter account. But how do you actually get people to join in and participate, or care?

For the journalists out there cutting their digital teeth in live coverage and live chats, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the basics to hosting successful and engaging live chats and live blogs.

Mandy Jenkins of Digital First Media will be leading a workshop in the New Haven Register newsroom for the Journal Register Company's Digital Ninja program in Connecticut on live chats and live blogging. And for you meta fans out there, yes, I'll moderate a live chat while it's going on.

Update: This session has concluded. Replay the live chat below. Video replay will be uploaded later this week.

Jenkins will lead reporters, editors and photographers from JRC's CT newsrooms in a discussion on best practices for hosting highly engaged live blogs and live chats with readers. The session is part of our program to equip our journalists and editors with today's digital skills.

How To Get More People To Read Your Blog (Digital Ninja School Session with Mandy Jenkins)

Do you ever feeling like you're talking to a wall when you post on your blog? Why doesn't anyone comment? Why are your page view stats so low? How do you get more traffic?

For those cutting their digital teeth in blogging, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the basic best practices to building an audience that keeps coming back to you for more.

Mandy Jenkins of Digital First Media will be leading a workshop in the New Haven Register newsroom for the Journal Register Company's Digital Ninja program in Connecticut.

Update: This session has concluded. Replay the live chat below. Video replay will be uploaded later this week.

She will lead reporters, editors and photographers from JRC's CT newsrooms in a discussion on best practices for blogging and how to develop a highly engaged audience. The session is part of our program to equip our journalists and editors with today's digital skills.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Journos, Innovators, Disruptors: Digital First Media Wants You

I got something I'd like to say to all the budding journos, problem solvers, innovators and wild-eyed disruptors who can't sleep at night out there. Why aren't you working for Digital First Media?

(Tip: They're hiring.)

(Disclosure: They hired me. I've been an employee of Journal Register Company for 5 years.)

I could riff all day over the differences between the Journal Register Company that hired me in 2007 and the Journal Register Company I work for today. But the key difference between then and now is the difference between starving and hungry. And it's the reason I've stayed with this company.

This is a company hungry to engage communities and involve readers more than ever before. Hungry to dismantle greed, ignorance and corruption. Hungry to give journalism a viable business model and to re-install it as a desirable career path. Hungry to hang the lanterns that light up journalism's future. I don't know about you, but that's something I want to be part of.

How hungry is Digital First Media? Let me count the ways.

For starters, Digital First Media is 'Digital First.'
When a newspaper company goes 'digital first' - it's not about the internet or newspapers. It's not about social media or mobile devices. It's not even about the preservation of journalism. It's about furthering the possibility of what journalism and local communities can accomplish together. That's why Journal Register Company and Media News Group united underneath the banner of Digital First Media - to lead the charge in upgrading journalism as a team. That's more than 800 million multi-platform products reaching more than 57 million people in the U.S. Think about that. That's a staggeringly large network of skills, experience and opportunity in media and local journalism. The career opportunities are boundless -- if you're hungry.

Speaking of Career Opportunities - We're Hiring
Digital First Media is advertising open positions around the country and is looking for more skill sets and ideas than ever before in the industry's history. In JRC Connecticut, we've been re-investing in breaking news, investigative reporting, community engagement and disruption (that's me). We are advertising for multiple reporter positions right now, but like the headline above says -- innovators and problem solvers are wanted. So even if you aren't interested in the positions advertised, that doesn't mean we don't have a need for your skills and innovation. Get in touch with us -- if you're hungry.

Attracting Industry Leaders, Teachers and Visionaries
John Paton. Jeff Jarvis. Jay Rosen. Emily Bell. Jim Brady. Dave Butler. Arturo Duran. Steve Buttry. Mandy Jenkins. Matt DeRienzo. Randy Keith. Greg Moore. Dan Petty. Ivan Lajara. Martin G. Reynolds. And counting. These are leaders you want to learn from and work with if you're interested in the future of  journalism and digital media right now. In this company, you can.

Investing In Digital Skills and Career Development
Steve Buttry leads a workshop. (pic via: The Buttry Diary)
[Insert some cliche phrase about teaching old dogs new tricks here.] Overwhelmed by all the social media networks and mobile journalism tools out there? Not the best with time and project management? Skill and career development is the other side of Digital First's 'innovation' coin, and it's one they've investing a lot of time, effort and money in. In Connecticut, we've gone so far as to establish a Digital Ninja School where we free up all editorial staff to develop core digital skills of their choosing on company time - and they pocket monetary bonuses for demonstrating skill mastery. Think of it as a digital journalism grad program that comes free with employment.

Rewarding Good Ideas and Innovation
The Digital First Media Idea Lab is a handpicked team of the company's hungriest innovators and problem solvers from around the company who are given company time, money and tools to experiment with and propose new ideas, platforms and methods. While Idea Lab members are afforded these extra benefits, the mindset of experimentation, collaboration and innovation is evident throughout the whole company, in every newsroom. Follow the #DFM #JRC #MNG and #DigitalFirst hashtags on Twitter to get a little whiff of it. Or jump in on our weekly #DFMChat, led by Ivan Lajara. Digital First Media's investment in an Idea Lab shows that hunger and brilliant ideas are rewarded.

Collaborating With Innovative Companies, Start-Ups and Bloggers
Digital First Media isn't just looking to hire the digital innovators and disruptors out there. Collaboration and partnerships are just as crucial to journalism 2.0. SeeClickFix, Syndicaster and Critical Media. The Guardian U.S. TheStreet. Community bloggers. These are just a few of the companies, organizations, individuals and start ups that have partnered with Digital First Media newsrooms to upgrade community journalism to something greater. And that's just the beginning.

What? That's Not Enough?
Did I mention Digital First Ventures? What about the recently announced Open Newsroom projects? And Project Thunderdome? How about the Citizen's Agenda project to re-invent election coverage so that it's focused more on informing voters with citizen-chosen issues, instead of name-bashing and the 'horse race' of political endorsements.

The bottom line - Digital First Media isn't one big idea, or a few little ones to save newspapers, upgrade journalism, or anything like that. It's what happens when communities, ideas and journalists decide to work together to build something greater. Do you got big ideas? This is a good place to start. (and this is a better place if you're interested in working with us in Connecticut)

What do you think? Is this just a buncha atomic-flavored Kool-Aid or is Digital First the real deal?