Lessons to be Learned from TBD
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TBD is a local news website and TV station in Washington D.C. that focuses on building an online community. It aggregates other local news, reports original stories, and capitalizes on social media. TBD's lessons include linking to other sites, collaborating with bloggers, using social media for breaking news and tips, and interacting regularly with readers both online and offline through meetups and crowdsourced projects. While TBD had some successes in community engagement, challenges included an unproductive relationship with its TV partner and difficulties monetizing through advertising.
Lessons to be Learned from TBD
- 1. Building an Online Community Lessons from a Washington D.C. news startup Mandy Jenkins Zombiejournalism.com
- 2. What is TBD? A social media-driven local news website and cable TV station covering the Washington, D.C. area Launched August 9, 2010 Started by former Washington Post.com Editor Jim Brady Owned by Allbritton Communications
- 3. The Setup 14 reporters 4 editors 3 news aggregators 5 community engagement staff members More than 200 local blogs More than 5 million residents in the coverage area
- 4. Lesson #1: Do what you do best and link to the rest
- 5. Aggregation The news everyone else is reporting Link off to other sites Competitors and partners Be a hub for all local news
- 6. Report original news Phone robberies on Metro In-depth on a rash of homicides in January Fact-checking politicians Lists of the day
- 7. Lesson #2: Don’t go it alone
- 8. Blog Network 222 blogs and more. Featuring: News, features, sports Neighborhood-level news In-depth watchdog reporting Sharing readers both ways
- 9. Lesson #3: Capitalize on Social Media
- 10. How TBD used social media Broadcasting Breaking news on Twitter Sharing news from others by re-tweeting Live-tweeting events and press conferences Listening Watch Twitter feeds of other media and reporters Watch local trends on Twitter Get tips from readers Watch keywords for news Search for info Be responsive to followers
- 12. Using tips Get further contact info Ask follow-up questions Verify the tip info with trusted sources Thank and acknowledge public tipsters
- 13. Tips Fires Crimes Car accidents Weather Events Why? Because they trust us & we respect them
- 14. Search tweets for news Search.Twitter.Com Search by keywords, location, time Find what happened, witnesses, photos
- 15. Lesson #4: Interact with readers
- 16. On social channels Respond to questions on Twitter and Facebook Address criticism from outside Share good responses with everyone Ask for help when you need it Be open about corrections and mistakes No arguing!
- 17. On the web Interact as a staff member in comments on your site and sites where TBD is discussed Answer questions, criticism Get ideas for follow-up stories But stay out of the way of discussion Remember: No arguing!
- 18. In person Regular reader meetups at local bars Regular meetups with blog network members Reporters holding open office hours in public places Newsroom café (Journal Register Co.) Allows readers a way to meet staff and one another face-to-face
- 19. Lesson #5: Get readers involved in stories
- 20. Complete this story Asks readers for missing or more info in an ongoing story.
- 21. Reader-made map : Valentine’s Day Maps.google.com
- 22. Reader-made map : Metro problems Crowdmap.com
- 23. Suggestion box : Best hamburgers allourideas.org/
- 24. More projects New Metro station names – gathered on Twitter and mapped . Placing readers’ tweets and photos into stories using Storify.com Readers suggest stories to cover
- 25. What didn’t work
- 26. TBD pitfalls Not enough involvement with WJLA, partner TV station, led to unproductive relationship TV advertising sales force couldn’ t sell online ads Blog network advertising arrangement fell through High costs for a startup
- 27. Questions?
- 28. Thank You! Mandy Jenkins Twitter: @mjenkins http://zombiejournalism.com