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.