10 WAYS TO

IMPROVE
GRADUATION
COVERAGE
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION
The agenda

10 ideas
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sharing ideas

Chris Biondi
Manager of newsroom development
GateHouse News & Interactive
Cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
6. Reader involvement
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
6. Reader involvement
7. CPJs
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
6. Reader involvement
7. CPJs
8. ASFs
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
6. Reader involvement
7. CPJs
8. ASFs
9. Breakouts
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
6. Reader involvement
7. CPJs
8. ASFs
9. Breakouts
10. Web tools
The 10 ways

1. Plan now
2. Package in print/Special sections/Keepsake
3. Package online
4. Promote early and often
5. Innovative content ideas
6. Reader involvement
7. CPJs
8. ASFs
9. Breakouts
10. Web tools
1. Plan now

Commencement is
just weeks away
Rope in advertising/
circ./marketing early
Is there a special
section opportunity?
1. Plan now
1. Plan now

Commencement is just weeks away

Build a list of dates
Set a plan to get grad lists into your system
When will you know the speakers,
valedictorian, salutatorian?
Work your sources now for unusual
angles for stories
1. Plan now

Don’t do exactly what you did last year

Look at what worked and what did not
Reader expectations continue to change
in print and online
Brainstorm in the newsroom
Share ideas
Use some of these ideas
1. Plan now

Draft a plan
Series of advances with
specific assignments
Day before/of/after coverage
Callouts: When and how will
you ask readers for content
Promotion: In print and online
Always be flexible
2. Package in print

Goal: Make a keepsake

Revenue opportunities:
special section, pullout, wrap
Contain the content
Don’t make the reader jump around
Make it special
Use alternative story formats: Q&A, quick reads
2. Package in print
2. Package in print
2. Package in print
2. Package in print
2. Package in print
3. Package online

Use the 'big package' feature

on new Zope template
Great for the big day
Include all links in the package
Search ‘big package’ at ghnewsroom.com
3. Package online

Use the 'big package' feature

on new Zope template
Galleries: Reader and staff-shot photos
Class lists: Make a separate story
Polls
3. Package online

Consider a graduation section

Use a hotlink for easy navigation
Relate all content to one ‘hone’ story
3. Package online

Other features
Use the carousel
Links packages
Be sure to promote
print to Web/Web to print
Use promo scroll
for callouts early
4. Promote early and often

Reader callouts: Use GH News Service promo

Tell people what you have
coming online and in print
Use Facebook and Twitter
5. Innovative content ideas

Then and now (1982 vs. 2010)

5. Innovative content ideas

Work sources for info. on the class

Don't focus just on the speakers
Six-word stories: This is a fun ASF: Ask grads to
sum up their high school experience, or their
hopes for college in a six-word story.

http://www.sixwordstories.net
5. Innovative content ideas

Highs and lows survey: Ask seniors what their

highs and lows were during their high school
experience
Contests: Class trivia, best advice
Chronicle one student's journey through the school
system, with class photos at each step
5. Innovative content ideas

Catch up with last year's class: Ask them for

advice for class of 2010. What surprised them?
What were they prepared for? What were they not
prepared for?
Catch up with the Class of 2006, now four years
out and in the workforce or just graduating from
college
The unsung: Go beyond the top athletes,
salutatorian and valedictorian. There are always
stories hidden among the 'unsung.'
6. Reader involvement

Lots of photo callouts

Send us your grad photos!
Disposable digital cameras ($14)
Callout: Advice for grads
Six words of advice from your readers
7. Community partner journalism

Key component of News Cube 2010

Great opportunity with graduation
Class member profile forms
7. Community partner journalism

Customize the CPJs

Anchor in a series on A1
Start now
8. Alternative story formats

Many options here

5 Things to Know About the Class of 2010
5 community leaders offer advice
ASF Profiles of class members
ASF profiles of retiring teachers
8. Alternative story formats
8. Alternative story formats
8. Alternative story formats
8. Alternative story formats
9. Breakout boxes

Many options here

5 Things to Know About the Class of 2010
5 community leaders offer advice
Breakout/ASF Profiles of class members
Breakout/ASF profiles of retiring teachers
9. Breakout boxes
9. Breakout boxes
10. Other multimedia/Web tools

Video profiles – short and sweet

Polls and surveys
Live Tweet the event
Coveritlive (advertising now …)
10. Other multimedia/Web tools

xtimeline Web tool to create online timeline of

class/history
10. Other multimedia/Web tools

Dipity Web tool to create online timeline of

class/history
10. Other multimedia/Web tools

Dipity Web tool to create online timeline of

class/history
10. Other multimedia/Web tools

‘Wordle’ the keynote speech

Steve Jobs, Stanford, 2005

10. Other multimedia/Web tools

‘Wordle’ the valedictorian speech

10. Other multimedia/Web tools

‘Wordle’ the class of 2010 list

Bellingham, Mass., High class of 2009

10. Other multimedia/Web tools

Be sure to promote, promote, promote

Wrapup/Discussion

cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com

When a reporter shoots photographs

When: Thursday, April 22 at 1 p.m. Central/2 p.m. Eastern
Content: 10 tips, including framing, composition, lighting and background
Presenter: State Journal-Register staff photographer
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/381332979
Audio: dial in: 877-336-1831/access code: 6303681100

5 ways to improve the layout of your sports page

When: Thursday, May 20 at 3 p.m. Central/4 p.m. Eastern
Content: ASFs, adding layers, headline hierarchy and more
Presenter: GateHouse design director Joe Greco
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/957153498
Audio: dial in: 877-336-1831/access code: 6303681100
 10 WAYS TO
IMPROVE
GRADUATION
COVERAGE
GATEHOUSE NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION