March 7 * JRNL 10March 7 * JRNL 10

Prof. Vaccaro

Hofstra University

Prof. Vaccaro

Hofstra University

Review Assignment 1Review Assignment 1

• Critique each person’s slide show

• Don’t worry - we’ll be kind

• Grades will be emailed sometime during the week

• Critique each person’s slide show

• Don’t worry - we’ll be kind

• Grades will be emailed sometime during the week

Fan vs. FanFan vs. Fan

• Every student must post one article and one video throughout the semester

• If you don’t like sports, it’s okay, we’ll make it as easy as possible

• First posts are due next week … any volunteers to start? I will do it randomly.

• Posts are to be 350 words - we’ll work together on this

• Every student must post one article and one video throughout the semester

• If you don’t like sports, it’s okay, we’ll make it as easy as possible

• First posts are due next week … any volunteers to start? I will do it randomly.

• Posts are to be 350 words - we’ll work together on this

Blog vs. Traditional MediaBlog vs. Traditional Media

• Opinion• No set style• Completely online• Citizen journalists• Anyone can do it• Free/sustainable

• Opinion• No set style• Completely online• Citizen journalists• Anyone can do it• Free/sustainable

• Objectivity• Proper style• Print/online/TV• Trained journalists• Hired by company• Biz team needed

• Objectivity• Proper style• Print/online/TV• Trained journalists• Hired by company• Biz team needed

Popular BlogsPopular Blogs

• According to ebizmba.com, the top 15 blogs on the net, as of March 6, 2011 …

• 1 | HuffingtonPost: 28,000,000 - Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors (AOL)

• 2 | TMZ: 17,000,000 - Estimated UVs• 3 | engadget: 11,500,000 - Estimated UVs• 4 | PerezHilton: 9,000,000 - Estimated UVs• 5 | Gizmodo: 8,900,000 - Estimated UVs• 6 | Mashable: 7,000,000 - Estimated UVs• 7 | TechCrunch: 6,500,000 - Estimated UVs (AOL)• 8 | Gawker: 4,500,000 - Estimated UVs• 9 | lifehacker: 4,400,000 - Estimated UVs• 10 | FanHouse: 4,350,000 - Estimated Uvs (AOL)

• According to ebizmba.com, the top 15 blogs on the net, as of March 6, 2011 …

• 1 | HuffingtonPost: 28,000,000 - Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors (AOL)

• 2 | TMZ: 17,000,000 - Estimated UVs• 3 | engadget: 11,500,000 - Estimated UVs• 4 | PerezHilton: 9,000,000 - Estimated UVs• 5 | Gizmodo: 8,900,000 - Estimated UVs• 6 | Mashable: 7,000,000 - Estimated UVs• 7 | TechCrunch: 6,500,000 - Estimated UVs (AOL)• 8 | Gawker: 4,500,000 - Estimated UVs• 9 | lifehacker: 4,400,000 - Estimated UVs• 10 | FanHouse: 4,350,000 - Estimated Uvs (AOL)

In-class VideosIn-class Videos

• In class video: If You Canít Beat Em, Blog Em and The End of Print

• http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/featuredvideos.aspx

• In class video: If You Canít Beat Em, Blog Em and The End of Print

• http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.hofstra.edu/featuredvideos.aspx

Blog BasicsBlog Basics

• Characteristics defining a blog (Briggs - Journalism Next)– Frequently updated - new content

should be at the top– Every entry has a headline/body text

and includes hyperlinks– Contains a spot for reader comments

• Characteristics defining a blog (Briggs - Journalism Next)– Frequently updated - new content

should be at the top– Every entry has a headline/body text

and includes hyperlinks– Contains a spot for reader comments

Blog BasicsBlog Basics

• San Jose Mercury News added a blog in 1999 and changed journalism– Every newspaper has blogs– Every major newspaper has broken

news via their blogs– Every reporter hired now, is asked if

they know how to manage/run a blog

• San Jose Mercury News added a blog in 1999 and changed journalism– Every newspaper has blogs– Every major newspaper has broken

news via their blogs– Every reporter hired now, is asked if

they know how to manage/run a blog

What are your favorite blogs?What are your favorite blogs?

• Tell us your favorites?

• Let’s look at newspaper blogs …

• Vaccaro– Let’s Blog it Out (Entourage), Newsday– JRNL Teaching (Stony Brook),

independent– Patch Blog (Company blog), Patch.com

• Tell us your favorites?

• Let’s look at newspaper blogs …

• Vaccaro– Let’s Blog it Out (Entourage), Newsday– JRNL Teaching (Stony Brook),

independent– Patch Blog (Company blog), Patch.com

Creating a blogCreating a blog

• Make a plan: editorial/business• Choose a blog system

– Blogger/Wordpress

• Choose a theme/design• Extras/Gadgets/Widgets• Build your audience

– How? Remember from our second class?

• Make a plan: editorial/business• Choose a blog system

– Blogger/Wordpress

• Choose a theme/design• Extras/Gadgets/Widgets• Build your audience

– How? Remember from our second class?

Tips for BloggersTips for Bloggers

• Organize your ideas• Be direct and to the point• Use appropriate language and style• Be the authority with a personality• Link, summarize and analyze• Be specific with headlines/tagging• Post early/post often• Use images and multimedia elements• Participate in the community/social network• Write less and with conviction

• Organize your ideas• Be direct and to the point• Use appropriate language and style• Be the authority with a personality• Link, summarize and analyze• Be specific with headlines/tagging• Post early/post often• Use images and multimedia elements• Participate in the community/social network• Write less and with conviction

Blog Ideas and Better IdeasBlog Ideas and Better Ideas

• News• Education• Hot-button issues• Animals• HS Football• Politics

• News• Education• Hot-button issues• Animals• HS Football• Politics

• Breaking news• Sachem Schools• Immigration• Doggies• Sachem Football• Newsday LI Pol.

• Breaking news• Sachem Schools• Immigration• Doggies• Sachem Football• Newsday LI Pol.

Other Blog Creation TipsOther Blog Creation Tips

• Define your competition … who else is writing about this topic?

• Who cares about the topic? Will anyone read or see this?

• How can I make this a visitor destination?

• Live blog and host talk sessions … think outside the editorial box

• Define your competition … who else is writing about this topic?

• Who cares about the topic? Will anyone read or see this?

• How can I make this a visitor destination?

• Live blog and host talk sessions … think outside the editorial box

MicrobloggingMicroblogging

• Using Twitter and Facebook to get your message out quickly

• Effective medium for breaking news• Can host chats/Q&As• Extension of your editorial reach• Building a digital community• Another reach for advertisers• Building your brand tweet-by-tweet• Create lists and communicate with others• Go mobile … Howard Stern tweets

• Using Twitter and Facebook to get your message out quickly

• Effective medium for breaking news• Can host chats/Q&As• Extension of your editorial reach• Building a digital community• Another reach for advertisers• Building your brand tweet-by-tweet• Create lists and communicate with others• Go mobile … Howard Stern tweets

Assignment 2Assignment 2

• Create a blog editorial/business plan– In two paragraphs create a blog idea that doesn’t

already exist– Remember … it has to be an original topic and

exist for a specific reason– Feel free to be as creative and detailed as you want– Name it, describe it and post on your Wordpress

class blog prior to March 14– You must present to the class prior to our guest

speaker’s lecture– Due March 14

• Create a blog editorial/business plan– In two paragraphs create a blog idea that doesn’t

already exist– Remember … it has to be an original topic and

exist for a specific reason– Feel free to be as creative and detailed as you want– Name it, describe it and post on your Wordpress

class blog prior to March 14– You must present to the class prior to our guest

speaker’s lecture– Due March 14

Ideas to keep in mindIdeas to keep in mind

• Should be a well-defined topic

• Ability to provide brief, incremental updates

• Well reported

• Authors should be engaged with audience

• Should be a well-defined topic

• Ability to provide brief, incremental updates

• Well reported

• Authors should be engaged with audience

Next ClassNext Class

• Reading– Check the site class schedule … there

are about 10 things that need to be read prior to March 21

• Guest Speaker: James Parziale– Research and prepare questions– You will need to blog about his visit– Use 3-5 hyperlinks, apply a catchy

headline, find a photo, if possible, etc.

• Reading– Check the site class schedule … there

are about 10 things that need to be read prior to March 21

• Guest Speaker: James Parziale– Research and prepare questions– You will need to blog about his visit– Use 3-5 hyperlinks, apply a catchy

headline, find a photo, if possible, etc.