Develop a structure to manage the writing, editing and publishing workflow using collaborative tools. We’ll cover best practices for frequency of publication, student responsibilities, tracking and grading the work and dealing with school administration.

1. MANAGING
anONLINE
NEWSROOM
Logan Aimone, MJE // School Newspapers Online
Tuesday, March 18, 14

2. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
You’ve decided to adopt
an online first attitude.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

3. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Now what?
Tuesday, March 18, 14

4. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Here’s what:
• Commit.
• Build the audience.
• Develop a structure for writing, editing and teaching.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

5. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
In the same way you must
adapt the tools to work
on the Web, you must
adapt the classroom.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

6. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Students will be in
different points of the
production schedule daily.
And that’s OK.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

7. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
What do teachers and
students need to do
to accommodate
Web publishing?
Tuesday, March 18, 14

8. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
5 things to think about and address:
• Day-to-day activities
• Leadership structures
• Coverage decisions
• Grading
• Fun
Tuesday, March 18, 14

9. DAY-TO-DAY
ACTIVITIES
Tuesday, March 18, 14

10. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Day-to-day Activities
• The daily activities of an online-first news staff look a lot like
the daily activities of a print-only class.
• However, each student could be at a different place in the
publishing process.
• You can bring order to the chaos.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

11. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Day-to-day Activities
• Brainstorm and plan stories. Have a quick session daily.
What’s happening? What do readers need to know?
• Teach lessons. Large-group, mini-lessons, ad hoc.
• Focus on the day’s priority. If it’s the print edition, spend time
on design, editing.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

12. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Day-to-day Activities
• Communicate beyond classroom. Develop a method to
facilitate organization and communication.
• One-on-one checkins. These add accountability and
opportunity to redirect student efforts.
• Outside class. Coverage might require evenings, weekends
and layout work nights (for print).
Tuesday, March 18, 14

13. LEADERSHIP
STRUCTURES
Tuesday, March 18, 14

14. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Leadership Structures
• Accommodate the online-first philosophy by revising student
leadership positions and descriptions.
• Empower students to make decisions responsibly.
• Plan for when big news happens.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

15. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Leadership Roles
• Online Editor-in-Chief option. A student with a title and
responsibilities equal to the print editor.
• Expanded roles option. Assignment role for managing editor
and additional coordinating for photographers/photo editors
must be expanded.
• Social media coordinator. This person supervises adoption,
policies, training and voice via social media channels.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

16. COVERAGE
DECISIONS
Tuesday, March 18, 14

17. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage Decisions
• Determine the best platform. Some stories are told better in
print, while others are told better online (or will appear first
online).
• Post when it’s ready. Don’t just dump content on the website
every three or four weeks.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

18. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage Decisions
Use a planning process:
• Which stories will appear in print? Online? Both?
• How can online and print combine to create multimedia
coverage?
• How can you tell advance and follow-up stories using both
platforms? Live coverage?
Tuesday, March 18, 14

19. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage Decisions
Discuss the Web-specific elements:
• What components does a Web story need to be effective at
telling the story:
• photos
• video
• audio
• poll
• hyperlinks
• infographic
• pull quote (mug optional)
• related stories
Tuesday, March 18, 14

20. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage Decisions
Establish timelines and deadlines:
• Set up an editing process that allows for students to
finish and publish work at different times, not just the
general deadline for a print issue.
• What deadlines make sense?
Tuesday, March 18, 14

21. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage Decisions
Determine the editing flow:
• You need a tool that allows you to collaborate in real
time.
• This speeds up the editing process.
• Google Drive (Apps/Docs) is great for this.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

22. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Coverage Decisions
Determine the publishing flow:
• Users can have different roles with levels of permission
and responsibility.
• Have reporters place story in draft mode, including
contextual links and pull quote suggestions.
• Once a story is edited, it can be approved and published.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

23. GRADING
Tuesday, March 18, 14

24. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Grading
• You will likely need to shift your paradigm for grading.
• You might need to try a few different formats until you find
what works for you and your school.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

25. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Grading
• Assignments will have many forms. How do you
accommodate this in grading?
• Your school may have requirements. Work within them.
• Set up a checklist of requirements to earn grades.
• Determine competency levels and grade based on level.
• Establish production quota for quarter/semester.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

26. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Grading
• What happens when students slack off, flake out or just don’t
produce?
• There are tools to help. CSPA, NSPA, JEA, state associations,
your colleagues.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

27. FUN
Tuesday, March 18, 14

28. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Fun
• The production cycle doesn’t have the same ebb and flow as
each printed paper, so you will need to build in time to
celebrate, evaluate, bond and grow.
• Incorporate Web milestones (analytics, hits, likes, retweets)
into the celebration list.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

29. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Managing online first
takes some work
and an open mind.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

30. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
The great journalism
you produce will
look different.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

31. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
You’re using today’s
technology and laying a
foundation for the future.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

32. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
You’ll teach your students
(or your peers) to adapt
to changing
circumstances.
Tuesday, March 18, 14

33. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Take the leap!
Tuesday, March 18, 14

34. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
Ready to jump in?
Tuesday, March 18, 14

35. MANAGING
an ONLINE NEWSROOM
QUESTIONS? Let’s hear ’em.
• Contact me at logan@snosites.com or @loganaimone
• School Newspapers Online
• See me at the table in the exhibitor area
?
Tuesday, March 18, 14