Newsroom Transformation

Steve ButtryTexas APMEApril 6, 2013

#txapme

RIP, Roger Ebert

Go, Bob!

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Priorities• Set the example from the top (change

what you do & say)• Change how your newsroom works• Change your meetings & budgets• Change org, but don’t let org chart drive

the change; org should follow action• Support change with training

Set the example• Are you actively & visibly using social

media, especially Twitter?• Are you learning along with staff?• Do your questions & demands reflect

your stated priorities?• Are you discussing ethical issues related

to change?

Change newsroom workflow• What are you covering live?• Where do social media, video, data (&

other digital work) fit in workflow?• What have you decided to do more of?• What have you decided to stop doing?

Do less of? Automate? • Where do you accept a lower standard?

Meetings & budgets• Is morning meeting about tomorrow’s

paper? Or today’s news-coverage plans?• Do you critique morning paper? Or

discuss what’s generating traffic or conversation on site & social media?

• Does news budget reflect digital work & priorities?

Change the org chart• New org chart won’t bring about change

but should reflect change• Do the things you’re doing more of need

positions or teams to lead the effort?• Who’s doing the things you’re doing less

of? What else should they do?• Do work shifts reflect digital platforms?

Possible position changes• Engagement/social media leader• Consider breaking-news team• Do you have data specialist, team?• Do you have video specialist? Webcast

producer and/or anchor?• What beats & positions need to change?• How do editing & design need to change?

Training is essential• Social media• Video• Data• Multimedia• Time management• Visual journalism• Writing & editing

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