NEW WEBSITE FOR ACM NEWSROOM

The new ACM Newsroom website — www.acmnewsroom.com — is launched.

It is still in development, but this will be the new and permanent home for ACM Newsroom.

Please replace this site with the new site — www.acmnewsroom.com!

Athens Messenger produces quality video work

As our newsrooms continue to provide more digital content, take a moment to view the videos being produced and posted by the Athens (Ohio) Messenger.

Here is a link to the Messenger's YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AthensMessenger

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING MONDAY!

ACM Newsroom will have a big announcement coming Monday concerning a beta project that will be tested in the field of all ACM regions.

More details to come Monday, July 25, 2011....

WEDNESDAY BUZZ: Back from vacation... Prep Football Blitz is growing!

Good Wednesday morning everyone,

After a few days away from the office, ACM Newsroom is pleased to report that the list of newspapers that are scheduled to launch Prep Football Blitz — our weekly prep football section — continues to grow.

Right now, the following newspapers are working to produce the section starting in the fall 2011:
- Grove, Okla.
- Miami, Okla.
- Southeast Kansas
- Waxahachie, Texas
- Stephenville, Texas
- Brownwood, Texas
- Edinburg, Texas

It is not too late to have a template produced for your market. The deadline to submit a request for a Prep Football Blitz template is Friday, July 22. We will need at least 72 hours to get the template ready for your market.

If you would like to request a template, or more information on the project, please email Rick Rogers at rogers@amconmedia.com.

Follow ACM Newsroom on Facebook

We are all aware of the power of social media. Now, you can easily follow news and posts coming from ACM Newsroom on Facebook. Click this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Consolidated-Media-Newsroom/166321993428539?sk=wall

Digital Reporting: Here are some great tools, apps to use

Check out this link to learn more about what tools and apps are available for the mobile journalist:

http://journalismdegree.org/2011/25-essential-ipad-apps-for-journalists/

THURSDAY BUZZ: Brownwood Bulletin launches new community website, seeing public interaction

The Brownwood (Texas) Bulletin recently launched one of ACM's new community-based websites on the TownNews Blox system, and has seen the community already engage with the website by sharing information, content and photos.

Here is a link to the Community Voice section of the website: http://www.brownwoodtx.com/community_voice/

As you can see, there are several photos uploaded and even a report on a local family reunion. Good stuff. The key to getting this user-generated content is through promotion — not just in the newspaper and on our website, but through rack cards, T-shirt, flyers, radio trade spots, etc.

To view the full website, go to www.brownwoodtx.com.

ACM JOB BANK: Cecil Whig seeks managing editor

Assistant editor looking to move up?

The Cecil Whig, a five-day daily in northeastern Maryland, is looking for a motivated managing editor. This person is responsible for developing daily and enterprise stories and will also assign photos and video and oversee features, sports, business and copy desk staff. Applicants should have a background in reporting and at least two years in an editor’s role. The Whig is located in Elkton, Md., which sits at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. We’re a boating and fishing destination and just an hour’s drive from Philadelphia and Baltimore. The Whig offers competitive pay and excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement and paid vacation. To apply, e-mail cover letter, resume and six writing and/or editing clips to mbullard@cecilwhig.com. Be sure to include "Managing editor" in your subject line. No phone calls please.

TUESDAY BUZZ: Redesign process under way for Grove (Okla.) Sun

Current Grove Sun front page

The redesign process is under way for the Grove (Okla.) Sun newspaper, and we thought we would give our ACM newsroom staffs a sneak peak at the front page redesign.

Remember, ACM Newsroom can provide redesign and repurposing of our news products in both print and online throughout our company.

Right now, redesigns are under way for Grove, Okla., Miami, Okla., Delaware County, Okla., and SE Kansas.

The goal is to have all redesigns launched by the beginning of September.

On schedule next is the Stephenville Empire-Tribune, which will begin the redesign process at the beginning of September.

If you have any questions on the ACM redesign process, please email rogers@amconmedia.com.

Proposed redesigned Grove Sun front page

MONDAY BUZZ: What the duties look like for today's reporter

Here's a big question for you to ponder: Are the demands on today's reporter more than they were 10, 15 or 20 years ago?

The easy answer would be, "yes!"

But, for argument's sake, let's discuss.

On quick glance, it seems today's reporter is being asked to do more, much more, than reporters of the past decades. Today's reporter is asked to tweet news from their beat, provide unique coverage for both print and web products, take photos, write detailed reports for print, shoot video for the web, and "crowdsource" for information using the public and the Internet. Today's reporter is asked to juggle multiple duties with multiple deadlines for multiple products.

In the 1980s life of a reporter, they were asked to write reports for print and, in some cases, take photographs for print. They had one deadline, and in many cases, one medium to concern themselves with — and they struggled to meet those demands because the technology was not there to do much more. Reporters had to wait to return to the office in most cases to begin filing their stories. They had to develop their film to begin processing their photographs for print. So much time was dedicated to their old-style processes that were done behind-the-scenes that it did not allow the reporter to do much more in terms of content gathering.

This is where today's reporter has a great advantage. With today's technology, a reporter can take a photo with their SmartPhone and upload it to the web, or email it directly to the design and web desk. They can file stories right from the scene of a fire, or from a press conference, using wi-fi or cell phone tethering technology. They can live blog from the event using free tools available on the web.

No more wasting time in the darkroom, as now reporters and photographers can upload images minutes after the event takes place from the field.

With a digital camera, a laptop, and a SmartPhone, a reporter can do their work in all mediums — print, digital, video and broadcast — and never step foot in the office.

Yes, reporters are asked to produce more content today than they were 20 years ago, because they have better tools to do so.

Brownwood Bulletin provides coverage of tragic death of father, firefighter at Texas Rangers game

The Brownwood Bulletin has been provided blanket, quality coverage of the tragic death of Brownwood husband, father and firefighter Shannon Stone, who died while attempting to catch a foul ball at the Texas Rangers baseball game.

Below are links to the Bulletin's coverage, which can be picked up and used in all ACM products.

Brownwood has done can excellent job covering the story, providing news coverage, ways to help the family, video coverage and sports stories on how the Rangers are dealing with the tragedy.

First main news story: http://www.brownwoodtx.com/sports/article_fbaef9b2-a91d-11e0-999d-001cc4c002e0.html

How to help the family: http://www.brownwoodtx.com/news/local/article_24f9db7c-a9ad-11e0-82f6-001cc4c03286.html

Sports angle: http://www.brownwoodtx.com/sports/article_8b4125ce-a9ea-11e0-883d-001cc4c03286.html


Video of city press conference: http://youtu.be/qJP6TmzMNps

FRIDAY BUZZ: Let's start the discussion on "crowdsourcing"

In the coming days, weeks and months, we will be discussing "crowdsourcing" and what it means and how it can benefit our newsroom in small-to-medium markets that we serve.

Here are some links to start your minds thinking about this subject:

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/070731niles/

http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/06/four-crowdsourcing-lessons-from-the-guardians-spectacular-expenses-scandal-experiment/

http://www.journalism20.com/blog/2009/02/10/crowdsourcing-journalism-best-practices/

These links are just to get the engine started... You will be seeing a much larger and broader emphasis on crowdsourcing on this blog and in ACM's content strategy moving forward.

Have a great weekend!

RR

THURSDAY AM BUZZ: Good industry news from NAA on readership of newspaper websites

Jeff Sigmund

Director of Communications

April 26, 2011

Arlington, Va. – Newspaper publishers drove tremendous traffic to their websites in this year’s first quarter, attracting an average monthly audience of 108.3 million unique visitors - - nearly two-thirds (63.9 percent) of all adult Internet users.

The analysis, performed by comScore for the Newspaper Association of America, also indicates that newspaper websites continue to attract key demographics and affluent consumers, reaching 60.4 percent of 25-to-34-year-olds and 74.4 percent of adults in households earning more than $100,000 a year on average throughout the quarter.

The findings also point toward audience engagement, with newspaper website visitors generating an average of 4.3 billion page views each month, spending nearly 3.7 billion minutes browsing the sites. March was particularly strong, with newspaper websites attracting more than 113 million unique visitors who generated more than 4.5 billion page views during a month marked by significant world events.

“These figures demonstrate newspaper websites’ ongoing power to attract large and sophisticated audiences in the digital space,” said NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm. “It is noteworthy that in March, with the world focused on major global events in the Middle East and Japan, readers sought out newspapers for high-quality content they can trust in today’s environment.”

Figures released by NAA in March revealed that online advertising generated $878 million for newspapers in last year’s fourth quarter, a 14 percent increase from the same period a year earlier.

From comScore:

Newspaper Website Ads Rank Ahead of Portals, Search Engines and Social Media

The latest comScore figures come on the heels of new data indicating consumers rank ads on local newspaper websites ahead of portals, search engines and social media when it comes to online options for advertising sources. The findings, part of a Frank N. Magid Associates survey of 2,500 adults*, also indicate that newspaper advertising is the leading advertising medium cited by consumers in planning, shopping and making purchasing decisions.

The study, titled “How America Shops and Spends 2011,” is the latest in an ongoing series of NAA research investigating consumer shopping habits and the influence media has on shopping today. It found that newspaper ads rank first in driving consumers to take action, with four-in-five adults (79 percent) surveyed saying they “took action” as a result of newspaper advertising in past month, including:

• Clipping a coupon (54 percent)
• Buying something (46 percent)
• Visiting Web sites to learn more (37 percent)
• Trying something for the first time (20 percent)

The full study is available here.

*Frank N. Magid Associates, based in Minneapolis, conducted this phone and Internet survey of 2,502 adults for the Newspaper Association of America.

Good coverage of breaking story

Folks, I know I have been heavy on the news from Waxahachie, Texas, lately, but I had to share the great coverage provided by the Waxahachie Daily Light staff over the holiday weekend of a body being found in a refrigerator in their area.

This story broke on July 4th, and Joann Livingston, the managing editor of the Daily Light, provided great coverage and continues to update the story as details come in. Staff reporter Andrew Branca also was on the spot to get some good images of police working the crime scene.

Below is her latest report found on the newspaper's website. The photos taken by Andrew Branca were featured on the 10 p.m. newscast of ABC's WFAA in Dallas on July 5, with credit given to the Waxahachie Daily Light.

Body found in refrigerator in western Ellis County

Arlington police and crime scene unit at the location where a body was found in western Ellis County. Photo by Andrew Branca

Authorities looking into whether remains are those of a missing Arlington man

By JOANN LIVINGSTON
Daily Light Managing Editor

Published: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 8:49 AM CDT

The identity of a body found July 4 in a refrigerator on a property in western Ellis County remains pending; however, authorities say they are looking into whether the remains are those of a 62-year-old Arlington man who went missing May 6.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dennis Brearley said a father and son were using their metal detectors on a property in the 500 block of Farm-to-Market 2258 when they came across the refrigerator. After opening it and discovering what appeared to be a body inside, they contacted the sheriff’s office, with a sergeant and investigators dispatched to the scene, Brearley said.

Justice of the Peace Jackie Miller Jr. said he was contacted at 11 p.m. and pronounced the as-yet unidentified person dead as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Miller said he ordered the body taken to the Tarrant County medical examiner for an autopsy.

“It was a pretty disturbing scene. They threw him away like he was trash,” Miller told the Daily Light.

Brearley said sheriff’s investigators recalled information received from the Arlington police during recent intelligence meetings to be on the lookout for a body that had possibly been dumped in the Ellis/Johnson county area.

Arlington PD was contacted about the find, with that agency’s officers securing the scene and taking over the case, Brearley said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Arlington PD spokesman Tiara Richard said her agency was still looking into the circumstances.

“We did have a homicide where a body was not recovered,” she said. “There is a possibility (the body found in Ellis County) is connected to our case, but the medical examiner will have to make that finding. We’re not connecting it; the medical examiner will have to do that. … We need to go through the process.”

According to information previously released by the Arlington Police Department, two people are in custody on a murder charge relating to the disappearance of Jerry Roberts from his residence in the 700 block of Sanford St.

Arlington officers had gone to his home May 6 to conduct a welfare check at the request of his family, arriving at the location to find the man’s pickup and refrigerator missing, while also discovering blood stains on a chair, authorities said.

During the ensuing investigation, at least one witness reported an argument the day before between Roberts and his roommate, Erin Leanne Guthrie, 38, who was seen on surveillance footage using Roberts’ debit card at a Fort Worth Convenience store May 7, authorities said.

On June 7, Thomas Eugene Dunham, 43, identified by police as Guthrie’s boyfriend, was stopped by officers in Alamosa, Colo., while driving Roberts’ truck, which had been listed as stolen, authorities said.

Dunham was taken into custody, with Guthrie located at a nearby Colorado homeless shelter and also taken into custody, authorities said.

“Based on the totality of the circumstances of this incident and interviews with the suspects, Arlington police investigators consulted with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office and are now proceeding with murder charges,” a June 24 press release by the Arlington PD states. “Guthrie and Dunham have both been charged with murder and remain in custody in the Alamosa County Jail in Colorado. Bail has been set at $500,000 for each suspect.”

It was unclear as of press time whether Guthrie and Dunham had been extradited back to Texas.

Contact JoAnn at joann@wninews.com or 469-517-1452.

TUESDAY AM BUZZ: Feedback from readers not dead in Waxahachie

The Voice of the Reader section of the opinion page
in a recent edition of the Waxahachie, Texas, Daily Light.

Another takeaway from my site visit to the Waxahachie, Texas, Daily Light last week that was extremely positive was the number of letters to the editor the newspaper receives and publishes, not just on a weekly basis, but on a near daily basis.

In my discussion with the newsroom staff, editor Neal White said the fact that the newspaper's policy is that it will print all letters to the editor on varying political views — as long as there are no statement of slander or libel and they are signed by the author with a phone number given for vertification — has fostered a forum of open discussion on the Opinion page of the newspaper.

Also, the section of the newspaper that publishes the letters is not called, "Letters to the Editor," it is called "Voice of the Reader."

In an earlier post on this blog, I talked about how the term, "letters to the editor," may be dated in today's world. First, not many of us write traditional "letters" these days, and also many readers are not aware of who the editor at the newspaper is, especially if there has been some turnover in that position.

That's why I love how the Waxahachie Daily Light has its reader correspondence published in the "Voice of the Reader." Another names for the feedback section could be, "Reader Feedback," "Inbox," "Your Views," "Sound Off," and many more.

Daily Light editor Neal White said the newspaper publishes at least one letter from a reader nearly every day, and sometimes multiple letters per day. He said the newspaper's crop of political-themed columns help spur feedback from readers.

What is going on in Waxahachie is a great example of how a newspaper's openness with its community can help foster increased interaction with its readers in the pages of the product.

Well done Daily Light staff!