McClatchy to launch digital news outlet to serve Youngstown, Ohio
McClatchy has selected Youngstown, Ohio, as the launch city for The Compass Experiment – an initiative in association with Google to develop essential and sustainable local digital news models.
"When we heard that Youngstown's daily newspaper, The Vindicator, would be closing, we saw an opportunity to help a community with a rich heritage and distinct identity find a path forward for local news," said Mandy Jenkins, general manager of The Compass Experiment. "We are on the ground now working with people in the community to set up a digital news outlet that will launch in the fall."
MoreNOLA.com takes readers on a culinary journey
On Monday, The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com premiered the first episode of the new series "Where NOLA Chefs Eat," hosted by Todd Price, the paper's award-winning dining reporter, and filmed and edited by video journalist and frequent Where NOLA Eats collaborator Frankie Prijatel.
MORETampa Bay Times unveils newspaper racks that can stream video news and advertising
The Tampa Bay Times has unveiled a new type of newspaper rack equipped with a 24-inch flat-screen monitor that can stream news and information at select retail outlets around the bay area. TimesVision is being installed in about 50 locations.
The 24-inch monitor streams news content and advertising in a seven-minute loop. The paper has the ability to update it in real-time with breaking news. It's all part of a new initiative called TimesVision designed to display video billboard content at print distribution racks in select retail outlets.
In the newsroom, a team of journalists will be producing short, sharp videos that will play on the TimesVision monitors – interspersed with marketing spots, advertising and in-store promotions at host locations.
This technology enables the Times to create a news and information feed that can be sold to advertisers around the bay area.
MORERecap the news in a weekly Instagram newsletter
Here's a great idea for reaching your readers on Instagram:
Each week, The Dallas Morning News publishes a weekly Instagram Newsletter that recaps the week's news in images.
MOREPost and Courier launches subscriber Facebook group, offering more perks for readers
The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.) has launched a new Facebook group exclusively for its subscribers – or what the paper calls its Insiders.
MOREMake the most of multiple platforms
A news consumer in Lynchburg, Va., might encounter a single advertiser in four different places during the course of a day, depending on who is participating in "Own the Day."
"Own the Day," was a special offer during the last two weeks of August at the Lynchburg News & Advance. The package included a front-page sticky note on the print edition, a desktop note, a mobile presence and an email blast.
The Lynchburg paper presented the idea at a recent P2P (Publisher-to-Publisher) SNPA video conference, but multiple papers in BH Media's Virginia Group participated, according to Lynchburg Advertising Director Kevin Smith. The idea originated with Regional Publisher Kelly Mirt, who first tried out a version of it at The Charlotte Observer.
MOREKeys to success with video
"Newspapers have been trying to play defense for a long time. From classifieds to inserts to our core users migrating to digital, our industry has been in protection mode," says Vince Johnson, publisher of The Item in Sumter, S.C. "Video allows us to play offense."
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GateHouse Media launches
co-branded initiative with Houzz
GateHouse Media launched a month-long nationwide sweepstakes on Jan. 15 to promote its partnership with Houzz that will provide readers with a fully co-branded experience, including the ability to purchase products directly from the publisher's co-branded websites. Among the prize offerings are a $5,000 Houzz shopping spree, daily cash prizes and Houzz discount coupons. It's all part of GateHouse Media's strategy to create local home and real estate destination channels within newspapers' websites.
MOREAtlanta Journal-Constitution launches new political digital product
Politically Georgia provides subscribers a new source for statewide reporting on Georgia politics. The AJC's journalists will bring readers the most important stories of the day, with a focus on elections, health care, immigration, the economy, opinions and columnists.
MOREMcClatchy video series featured in Facebook's Watch
McClatchy has announced that Titletown, TX, the real-life, inside account of an elite Texas high school football team's journey for a sixth state championship in eight years, is being featured as part of Facebook's new Watch platform.
Watch is a place where people can find Shows, a new type of video on Facebook. Users can engage with a broader community and subscribe as new episodes are released each week. Facebook continues to roll out Watch to users and Titletown, TX can be found here: www.facebook.com/titletowntx
MORECrowdTangle makes for easy social content monitoring
For digital editors and content producers looking to get a better handle on how their content is performing on social, CrowdTangle is an excellent tool.
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