Part of your summer reading program should be the fluff that you might never get to any other time. Stuff with absolutely no redeeming value except that you love it. But in case you want to keep one book going that will help you professionally, especially as an editor or manager or publisher, here’s a good place to start. The blog Entrepreneur Corner has an article on the seven “must reads” for entrepreneurs. Some are management-oriented, and some, like Tom Friedman’s The World is Flat, just help us to understand the new world in which we all do business, no matter what our corner of Texas.
Category: Uncategorized
A new interactive map now shows broadband access throughout the state of Texas. You can check out broadband availability for any city, and even any specific address, in the state. The map shows that 96 percent of Texans can access broadband, but that still leaves out about 250,000 homes. Be sure to surf through the entire website — it contains loads of information on every county in the state, including detailed broadband-availability maps of your county. The maps are a project of the Texas Department of Agriculture. The department’s news release quoted commissioner Todd Stapes as saying: “High-speed Internet is directly related to business development and is a critical lifeline to vital services like telemedicine and education. Every Texan should have the opportunity to drive in the fast lane on the information superhighway; however, some Texans are stuck on a dirt road. This new statewide broadband map will help us bridge the digital divide for rural communities and households that remain unserved by broadband service.”
Google lists top thousand
If you’ve ever wondered what sites get the most visitors on the Web, wonder no more. Google has compiled the list. No. 1: Facebook, with 540 million unique visitors.
The blog Lost Remote has published what the bloggers consider to be the five stages of new media acceptance. You can probably look back at your own experience with anything from the Web to Twitter and find yourself on the list. Here they are:
1. Denial: You believe the new app is useless, doesn’t apply to community journalism, or definitely won’t make any money for your newspaper.
2. Disbelief: You read about the app’s use at other newspapers and can’t believe people are wasting their time. And even if it IS working for them, you know it won’t work in your town or at your newspaper.
3. Trial: OK, you decide you’ll give it a brief trial since so many others are doing it. But you are pretty sure nothing will come of it.
4. Acceptance: It works! Readers are following you on Twitter. Your website is getting hits from your Facebook page!
5. Piousness: You run into your friends at TPA meetings and tell them that anyone who doesn’t have a Facebook page is hopelessly behind the times. You call the Center’s Andrew Chavez and ask if he wants you to “give a testimony” on the success of your website at the next workshop.
The new GameChanger iPhone app is designed to help keep score in Little League and high school baseball – without a pencil. You can now record every pitch, hit and run on your phone. It’s free, but the originator, Fungo Media, plans to launch a subscription service to let people get digital simulations of live games. Says a Fungo exec: “This is real-time game content for local sports. This is like ESPN Gamecast for Little League.” Up next: Fungo want to partner with newspaper websites, so that papers can receive get box scores without anyone ever having to call the newspaper.
Media managers have long had access to simple statistics about their product’s consumption. Newspaper publishers, for example, have relatively easy access to circulation figures. But more detailed information about consumption habits traditionally has only been available via extensive research, often from outside providers.
That is far from the case online, though. Free blogging platforms track statistics as do most media-sharing sites such as YouTube or Flickr. Rare is the service that even charges to get such information. And free services such as Google Analytics allow anyone with a website insight into how content is being consumed.
But knowing how to interpret those data can be a difficult task. In fact, some argue that all of this data isn’t necessarily a good thing if nobody knows what it means. James Robinson, director of web analytics at The New York Times, is quoted as saying that all of this data is useless if it’s not being used to learn about how people are engaging with content. He said “it’s not about the data, it’s about the insights….it’s not about the page views or click-throughs – it’s about making New York Times customers happy.”
Q & A is by far my favorite, being able to ask specific questions about something going on at my newspaper and how the materials being presented can be used or adapted for use. Also, being able to talk with my peers at other papers, and know we are all indeed ‘in the same boat.’ Perhaps most helpful, though, was being there made me stop thinking about my next paper, and got me to think about my paper’s survival in the future.
My favorite part was doing a features page layout for a graduation. It allowed me to try out some ideas that I have been wanting to use at my paper. With help and ideas from Broc, I am now ready to tackle a features page with a scrapbook theme! And I will always remember all the CRAP I learned here! 🙂 {Editor’s note: CRAP is an acronym for something the workshop participants learned about design. Join us for the next design seminar and you’ll never forget the CRAP you learned here, either!}
My favorite part of the workshop was meeting people and listening to their stories about the newspapers they are at. I also enjoyed the workshop; it was very informative and interesting!
My favorite part of the workshop was the crash course for InDesign and playing with the program.
I enjoyed meeting new people and having fun with page design. Also, going out to eat at the Stockyards was AWESOME.
I liked the hands-on InDesign and Photoshop. I liked the examples of papers and how they could be changed. That was very helpful to me.
I loved hearing all of the Photoshop tips, and then just being free to create and learn as we go.
Just being able to have fresh eyes on my work and get feedback helps a lot.
I enjoyed seeing what other papers are doing. I also enjoyed learning aspects of Photoshop I was not familiar with. Broc was great working with everyone.
I have to admit I have been greedy taking up space in your classes the last three years and think maybe next year I should let others take a spot instead, but there again if you will let me come back again I sure will! I did find out quite a few things about myself from this little junket, maybe more than anything else.
I was very inspired by Jim Riddlesperger, and even though I thought I hated politics and I am now motivated to do at least 3 stories from his discussions.
Also found out that my love of writing really is in the column format, which I have done for many years, so I should start back and put pen to paper. Meanwhile I will go back to work tomorrow and make a living, doing everything else!!
Paula LaRocque has been one of my favorite authors on writing for years — her presentation was absolutely solid, convincing, and beneficial beginning to end. The session on Cop Shop was also great. The workshop overall was one of the best I’ve ever been to.
My favorite part was being able to lay out my own page and actually do it, since I have never done it or even used a Mac.
Coming from an English background, I found that the workshop offered a solid baseline for journalism writing, techniques and presentation. I now am far more confident in my skills as a working community journalist and editor. We’ve put out one issue since the workshop, and I paid extra attention to the five pieces that I contributed, making sure that they had “multiple entry points” and were “written for the reader.” No more Jane Austen novels from this writer. I gave the same treatment to other pieces in the paper that I edited.
I want to personally thank you for hosting another fantastic workshop. It caused me to second-guess every word I print in the newspaper (which proved extra stressful on deadline day), but it has also made me a more dedicated journalist, one who takes that title seriously. If they could, I believe our readers would thank you for that.
I immensely appreciated being in the presence of people who are passionate about journalism and who have the expertise to teach writing on specific topics. The editorial lesson was of particular significance to my paper. And, of course, the meals were amazing and both Dr. Thomason and Chavez were more than hospitable.
The entire workshop was excellent! I feel privileged to have been able to attend. I will be able to use pretty much everything I learned. Reporting and writing stories is somewhat new to me and I was amazed by what I learned in a day and a half. I didn’t know it was possible to soak in that much information in such a short time. I enjoyed hearing the guest speakers and have much respect for Tommy and Andrew! I am now even more interested in reporting and newswriting. I didn’t want to come back to work, I wanted to stay there and learn from those two guys! There should be a newswriting workshop part 2!
My favorite part was knowing that I am not alone in this business and meeting people with similar problems, battles and concerns. I liked being able to hear others share their experiences how they resolved them. I enjoyed seeing a few familiar faces and meeting new people in the business. It’s comforting and rejuvenating all at the same time.
I particularly enjoyed Broc’s rebuilds on several of the pages submitted to him, where he shows you what you could do with what you have — rather than what he can do with Pulitzer-prize caliber art!
Paula Laroque’s [workshop] was extremely helpful in fine-tuning my writing skills. It made me realize some of the ruts that I get in when it comes to compiling articles. Andrew and Tommy’s information showed the passion of their views on making stories become the best they can be and how our writing needs to reach the readers. Roy Eaton’s talk on community journalism was extremely helpful due to the fact that a lot of the topics he covered applied to our community. The other presenters were strong and I learned a lot from them as well.
List of participating newspapers
Here's a list of the newspapers that have sent staff members to our workshops over the years:
- Advocate magazines
- Albany News
- Alpine Avalanche
- Alpine Daily Planet
- Archer County Advocate
- Argyle Sun
- Athens Daily Review
- Austin Community Newspapers
- Azle News
- Bandera Bulletin
- Bastrop Advertiser
- Bay City Tribune
- Baylor County Banner
- Baytown Sun
- Beeville Bee-Picayune
- Big Lake Wildcat
- Big Sandy and Hawkins Journal
- Blanco County News
- Boerne Star
- Bowie News
- Brackett News
- Brady Standard-Herald
- Breckenridge American
- Bridgeport Index
- Brownfield News
- Bryan-College Station Eagle
- Buffalo Press
- Bullard Banner News
- Burleson Star
- Burnet Bulletin
- Cameron Herald
- Canadian Record
- Canyon News
- Carrizo Springs Javelin
- Cass County Sun
- Castroville News Bulletin
- Cedar Creek Pilot
- Cedar Park Citizen
- Cherokeean Herald
- Clarendon Enterprise
- Clarksville Times
- Claude News
- Clay County Leader
- Colorado City Record
- Comanche Chief
- Commerce Journal
- Community News (Aledo)
- Cooper Review
- Corsicana Daily Sun
- Daily Court Review
- Daily Sentinel
- Daily Sentinel (Nacogdoches)
- Daily Tribune
- Dalhart Texan
- De Leon Monitor
- Deer Park Broadcaster/Progress
- Del Rio News-Herald
- DeLeon Free Press
- Denison/Pottsboro Press
- Diboll Free Press
- Dillard Newspapers
- Dripping Springs Century-News
- Dublin Citizen
- Eagle Press
- Eastland County News
- El Campo Leader-News
- Ellis County Press
- Ennis Daily News
- Everman Star
- Examiner (Navasota)
- Farmersville Times
- Fayette County Record
- Focus Daily News
- Fort Worth Business Press
- Franklin News Weekly
- Frankston Citizen
- Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post
- Freestone County Times
- Gatesville Messenger
- Gladewater Mirror
- Glen Rose Reporter
- Golden Gazette
- Goldthwaite Eagle
- Gonzales Cannon
- Graham Leader
- Grand Prairie Reporter
- Granite Publications
- Grapeland Messenger
- Hansford County Reporter-Statesman
- Hawley Voice
- Hays Free Press
- Hereford Brand
- Highland Lakes Newspapers
- Highlander
- Hometown News & Riesel Rustler
- Hondo Anvil Herald
- Hood County News
- Huntsville Item
- Idalou Beacon
- Irving Rambler
- Island Moon
- Jacksboro Newspapers
- Jackson County Herald-Tribune
- Jacksonville Daily Progress
- Jefferson Jimplecute
- Jewett Messenger
- Jewish Herald-Voice
- Joshua Star
- Junction Eagle
- Katy Times
- Kaufman County Life
- Kaufman Herald
- Keene Star
- Kerens Tribune
- Kerrville Daily Times
- Kilgore News Herald
- Killeen Daily Herald
- Kingsland Current
- Kirbyville Banner
- Knox County News
- Kyle-Buda Eagle
- Lake Country Sun
- Lake Travis View
- Lampasas Dispatch Record
- Leonard Graphic
- Light and Champion
- Lindsay Letter
- Little Elm Journal
- Lockhart Post-Register
- Lufkin Daily News
- Madisonville Meteor
- Malakoff News
- Martin County Messenger
- Medina Valley Times
- Midland Reporter-News
- Motley County Tribune
- Mount Vernon Optic-Herald
- Mountain Sun
- Muenster Enterprise
- Munday Courier
- Murphy Monitor
- Navarro County Times
- Newton County News
- Nocona News
- North Lake Travis Log
- Oak Cliff People
- Olney Enterprise
- Palestine Herald Press
- Pampa News
- Panhandle Press Association
- Paris News
- Patriot Talon (UT Tyler)
- People Newspapers (Dallas)
- Pflugerville Pflag
- Picayune and River Cities Daily Tribune
- Pilot Point Post-Signal
- Plainview Daily Herald
- Pleasanton Express
- Polk County Enterprise
- Port Aransas South Jetty
- Port Arthur News
- Port Lavaca Wave
- Prime Time Newspapers
- Princeton Herald
- Progress Times
- Quad City Messenger
- Rains County Leader
- Raymond Chronicle and Willacy County News
- Red Oak Record
- Red River Reporter
- Rix Quinn Communications
- Rockdale Reporter
- Round Rock Leader
- Sachse News
- San Angelo Standard-Times
- Sanger Courier
- Sealy News
- Seminole Sentinel
- Silsbee Bee
- Smithville Times
- Stamford American
- Star Group Newspapers
- Stonewall County Courier
- Suburbia News
- Sulphur Springs News-Telegram
- Sun Newspapers
- Swisher County News
- Tawakoni News
- Taylor Daily Press
- TCU Daily Skiff
- Teague Chronicle
- Terrell Tribune
- Texas Community Newspaper Association
- Texas Jewish Post
- Texas Press Association
- Texoma Enterprise
- The Facts (Clute)
- The Grizzly Detail
- The Informador
- The Island Moon (Corpus Christi)
- The Shorthorn
- Throckmorton Tribune
- Today’s Catholic
- Trammel Trace Tribune
- Vernon Daily Record
- Waco Tribune-Herald
- Wallis News-Review
- Waxahachie Daily Light
- Weatherford Democrat
- Weimar Mercury
- West Austin News
- West Kerr Current
- Western Observer
- Westlake Picayune
- Wharton Journal Spectator
- White Oak High School Gauger
- White Rock Lake Weekly
- Whitesboro News-Record
- Whitewright Sun
- Wilson County News
- Wimberley View
- Winnsboro News
- Wise County Messenger
- Wood County Democrat
- Wylie News
- Yoakum Herald Times
- Zapata County News
OK, you need some good news amidst all the gloom and doom about newspapers. We had to go to England to get it, but here it is: A study in Great Britain said that newspapers have one major advantage – consumers trust us more than any other medium. And in community journalism, where people actually run into us at the Little League game or singing in the church choir or buying nails at the hardware store, there’s probably more trust than what showed up in the Brits’ study. The research showed that 66 percent trust newspaper advertising as “informative and confidence inspiring,” vs. just 44 percent who feel that way about TV and only 12 percent who’d agree to that for Internet advertising.