Comments on: Finding the right news balance http://mikemcinally.mvourtown.com/2009/06/17/finding-the-right-news-balance/ Gazette-Times Publisher Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:09:42 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: chrisnordyke http://mikemcinally.mvourtown.com/2009/06/17/finding-the-right-news-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-819 chrisnordyke Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:45:34 +0000 http://mikemcinally.mvourtown.com/?p=91#comment-819 Mike, thanks for taking time to respond to my comments. In an effort to provide a sampling or digest of the world/national events, has the GT ever considered a format similar to the WSJ front page with short summaries of the days stories? (minus the unabridged story on subsequent pages) It would keep people in the "know", but instead of supporting those headlines with AP, people could dig deeper at online venues if they were so inclined. (Or get more news from national pubs like WSJ, NYT, etc) Regarding the "hyper-local" trend and feedback from GT readers. I think it's difficult to get great strategic information from reader surveys. A hyper-local focus would be a paradigm shift for the readership, as the paper has been AP driven for some time now. Many readers have not experienced a local paper that has 5 or 6 pages of local content, so when asked whether they are satisfied with the amount of local coverage, most readers reflect on the balance of local/national coverage in other papers they've read (NYT, WP, SFC) and conclude that " ya, it's about right". Difficult to really get useful feedback unless the hyper-local model is presented in contrast to the current makeup of the GT. Not having reviewed the sampling info and composition of past readership surveys, I would still passionately hold that a hyper-local business model for the GT would be met with enthusiastic feedback from the community, but also be a profitable change for the GT. My comment regarding the over 65 demo was hasty and poorly developed. I think statistics would show that the over 65 demo would tend to consume their media in a more analog format versus the 18 to 50 pop that more and more consumes their news digitally. The point I was trying to make, is that the old school local/national/global approach satisfies the over 65 crowd's needs, but more and more alienates the 18-50ish segment. Here's my take in a nutshell: If the GT were to switch to a hyper-local model, it would be an adjustment for a segment of readers, but ultimately result in a much broader and loyal base of readership. Because 5 years from now, the paper will still be better equipped to distribute local news than a fragmented pool of citizen journalists. Regional, national, and global news, however, will be virtually on-demand and nearly ubiquitous via cell phones, satellite tv and netbooks. Mike, thanks for taking time to respond to my comments.
In an effort to provide a sampling or digest of the world/national events, has the GT ever considered a format similar to the WSJ front page with short summaries of the days stories? (minus the unabridged story on subsequent pages) It would keep people in the "know", but instead of supporting those headlines with AP, people could dig deeper at online venues if they were so inclined. (Or get more news from national pubs like WSJ, NYT, etc)

Regarding the "hyper-local" trend and feedback from GT readers. I think it's difficult to get great strategic information from reader surveys. A hyper-local focus would be a paradigm shift for the readership, as the paper has been AP driven for some time now. Many readers have not experienced a local paper that has 5 or 6 pages of local content, so when asked whether they are satisfied with the amount of local coverage, most readers reflect on the balance of local/national coverage in other papers they've read (NYT, WP, SFC) and conclude that " ya, it's about right". Difficult to really get useful feedback unless the hyper-local model is presented in contrast to the current makeup of the GT.

Not having reviewed the sampling info and composition of past readership surveys, I would still passionately hold that a hyper-local business model for the GT would be met with enthusiastic feedback from the community, but also be a profitable change for the GT.

My comment regarding the over 65 demo was hasty and poorly developed. I think statistics would show that the over 65 demo would tend to consume their media in a more analog format versus the 18 to 50 pop that more and more consumes their news digitally. The point I was trying to make, is that the old school local/national/global approach satisfies the over 65 crowd's needs, but more and more alienates the 18-50ish segment.

Here's my take in a nutshell: If the GT were to switch to a hyper-local model, it would be an adjustment for a segment of readers, but ultimately result in a much broader and loyal base of readership. Because 5 years from now, the paper will still be better equipped to distribute local news than a fragmented pool of citizen journalists. Regional, national, and global news, however, will be virtually on-demand and nearly ubiquitous via cell phones, satellite tv and netbooks.

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