Seize the Digital Future
Steve ButtryNew York State AP Association
October 3, 2012#seizefuture
Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• jxpaton.wordpress.com• [email protected]
We need to disrupt …• How we work • How we think• How we’re organized• How we engage the community• How we make money
Digital-first journos think …1. Story is a process, not a product2. Like to be first, but link when we’re not3. Community = collaborators4. When we hear great quote or learn
interesting fact, think, “I better tweet that.”
5. More excited by RTs, likes, shares, pins & links than by front-page play
Digital-first journos think …6. Obstacles = war stories, not excuses7. New gadget or social platform = tool
for better journalism8. When news breaks, thinks of terms to
search for on Twitter9. Journalism future is bright & boundless10. Defies prediction (& lists), thinks of
new ideas, issues & solutions
Working Digital First• Create content for digital platforms (web,
mobile, social, email, SMS)• Produce print & broadcast products from
content on digital platforms• Live coverage of events• Breaking news coverage• Engage community
Court reporter• Live-tweet from courtroom (narrative,
not a transcript)• Feed tweets into liveblog• Big development: Text news alert to
editor• Write summary or analysis story for web
Court reporter, no trial• Traditional rounds: lawyers, judges,
clerks, filings• Add digital-first rounds: monitor tweets,
search Twitter, Facebook groups & pages• Tweet/alert/blog big filings• Video interviews• Scan or download docs if not online
Court reporter, no trial• Live chat (off day in trial)• Data analysis• Data visualization• Database tracking cases (Homicide
Watch)• Note charges dismissed• Enterprise stories (map, timeline)
Newsroom training• Online training (News U, Lynda.com)• Online resources (digitalninjaschool.com;
#twutorial; my blog; Zombie Journalist; Life, I Wrote; others?)
• Brownbaggers: How I did it• Conferences, seminars• Bring in outside trainer
Make training a priority
Newsroom training
Just do it.
Filthy lucre• Collapse of biz model has severely
harmed journalism• We can protect our integrity & contribute
to developing new models• Brainstorming ≠ selling• Journos are creative people• What’s the value? Who would pay?
Life story opportunities• Commissioned obits (journalist tells life
story, paid by family)• Flexible pricing• Obituary, website, booklet, video• Not just obits: weddings, retirements,
anniversaries, milestones• Set standards to ensure accuracy
New assumptions, approachJob to be done: Help me honor loved oneTraditional solutions: Formulaic obit by news staff, sappy obit by funeral homePrevious disruption: Legacy.comSolution: Tell loved one’s life storyOpportunity: Commissioned multimedia life stories
Blow stuff up in …• Visual journalism• Sports• K-12 schools• Higher ed• Local government• Breaking news• Statehouse
• Copy editing• A&E• Food• Family• Faith • Business• Obits
Personal content• Births• Youth milestones• School• Graduation• College life• Military service• Weddings
• Parenthood• Divorce• Illness• Empty nesters• Retirement• Reunions• Pets
Brainstorm something new• New beat or position• Data• Curation• Community engagement• SeeClickFix
Key questions• What’s the job to be done? For whom
(business or community)?• What’s disruptive about your solution?• How do you engage the community? • How do you need to work differently?• How do you need to think differently?
Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• jxpaton.wordpress.com• [email protected]