(9:30 - 10:30 a.m.) In this acclaimed one-hour session, you'll see examples of how newspaper reporters have started new blogs and built up loyal and enthusiastic audiences for them. You'll learn how to tweak your writing style to appeal to online readers, how to manage comments and "trolls"; how to think about the length and frequency of posts; how to think about links and when to include them. See the PowerPoint.
(11 a.m. - noon) So you already have a blog -- how's it doing? Are you happy with the traffic and the comments, or are you looking for ways to build your audience and attract better feedback? There are a variety of recognized techniques for achieving those goals! We'll discuss how to improve your SEO (search engine optimization), how to manage and respond to comments, and how to manage links to get the maximum benefit from including them. Also: Have you considered a vlog (video blog)? See the PowerPoint.
(Noon - 1:30 p.m.) No agenda, just questions and discussion.
(1:30 - 4 p.m.) Any newspaper reporter can learn to gather and edit audio and produce professional-sounding MP3 files. It only takes 2.5 hours! This training has been tested on reporters around the country and is absolutely THE low-stress way to begin your transition to multimedia reporting. Learn how to handle equipment and conduct an interview to get clean audio. Then find out how easy it is to cut, copy and paste -- the audio file! Finally, export an MP3 file that is instantly ready to play online.