Blogging: Just the beginning

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chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginning

Everything changes when you make readers leaders

Dean Betz, online news editor

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Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

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Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we could with our own staff alone

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Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we could with our own staff alone

Changing the way we cover news – for the better

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Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we could with our own staff alone

Changing the way we cover news – for the better

The future? It's not about us. It's about the readers

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

Blogging by reporters and editors

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

Blogging by reporters and editors Still the newspaper’s voice

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

Blogging by reporters and editors Still the newspaper’s voice First steps at building a relationship with

the readers through comments and feedback

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Blogging: Just the beginningMeMo

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Blogging: Just the beginningMeMo

Started as a daily commentary on popular culture for staff

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Blogging: Just the beginningMeMo

Started as a daily commentary on popular culture for staff

Now one of site’s most popular blogs, earned honors (including an EPpy) for its clever, oblique angle.

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Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

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Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

Early step at giving community a voice

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Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

Early step at giving community a voice

Launched early 2006

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Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

Early step at giving community a voice

Launched early 2006

Original videos, great comment-conversation

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Blogging: Just the beginningHurricane Rita

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Blogging: Just the beginningHurricane Rita

Real-time reporting of storm’s approach, massive evacuation

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Blogging: Just the beginningHurricane Rita

Real-time reporting of storm’s approach, massive evacuation

Readers connect, share experiences in comments

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

Readers’ report on evacuation via phone, e-mail, text

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

Readers’ report on evacuation via phone, e-mail, text

Share tips on gas, supplies, highway congestion

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Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

Readers’ report on evacuation via phone, e-mail, text

Share tips on gas, supplies, highway congestion

‘Networked journalism’ on a simple scale

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

"Number One … the Houston Chronicle. By a mile"

Relationship with readers: “Alternately inform, and be informed by them”

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

Voice

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

Voice Comments,

reader participation

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Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

Voice Comments,

reader participation

Range, originality

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Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

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Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

Reporters blogged Enron trial live

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Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

Reporters blogged Enron trial live

Readers added depth via comments

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Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

Reporters blogged Enron trial live

Readers added depth via comments

Back-and-forth grew into “Ask Mary”

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Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth

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Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … from pets

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Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … to guns

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Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … to

gadgets

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Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … to faith

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Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

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Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

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Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

Tools for people to tell their own stories

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Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

Tools for people to tell their own stories

Make groups

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Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

Tools for people to tell their own stories

Make groups Drive the news