Otis Chandler’s Post

"I don’t like using the word 'content' in any sense because I was trained as a journalist to be precise with my language and avoid catchall terms. If a word describes everything, it describes nothing, and 'nothing' is exactly what comes to mind when I hear the word 'content.' 'Content' today is used to describe anything that meets the general idea of sensory stimulus. The expanding use of this word as the descriptor for the work we do is a sign of the devaluing of that work by the people and institutions that manage it. Public radio is journalism, shows, music, culture. Content is an inexact blob that people in a boardroom can cut to a convenient and profitable size." Great read from Gabe Bullard.

Staying informed and educated may soon become a line item in our personal budgets, akin to how some companies allocate a 'learning' budget for their employees. The challenge is that free access to comprehensive news coverage, including both the latest updates and deep journalism, is becoming scarce. The industry has yet to find a sustainable model that works well. Without robust journalism, we run the risk of being uninformed as a society, confined to our own narrow viewpoints and opinions. To counteract this, many of us are considering subscriptions to selected news services or bundled platforms like Inkl, which bring together various publications. Take, for instance, a family with a keen interest in business news. They might subscribe to Bloomberg or Financial Times and complement these with paid expert newsletters for broader insights. However, there's a potential downside—if they're missing out on local and cultural news, we might be steering them into an echo chamber. With the phenomenon of subscription fatigue mirroring what we've seen in the streaming world, they're unlikely to keep adding more services. This could leave them constrained within their bubble, unable to break free due to the sheer cost of paying for too many subscriptions. Aggregation platforms aim to address this issue, but often fail to include the valuable content from local outlets and independent newsletters, leaving a noticeable void in the representation of diverse voices. On a personal note, I've recognized the value of establishing a learning budget. I've committed to a variety of news services and newsletters, and I anticipate this will only grow. It's my strategy for staying well-informed, moving beyond the passive consumption of headlines on social media to actively understanding the complexities of our global landscape. If you're devising innovative ways to tackle these challenges or to enhance how we support and consume journalism, your input could be pivotal. I look forward to potentially subscribing to the solutions you create! #news #journalism

It's the end of July, here's our content roundup in case you've missed anything! 😎 1️⃣ Engaged readers are valuable readers. They stay longer, read more. They’re the demographic from which subscribers are likely drawn. So the question how to create higher engagement is quite an important one for all journalists and publishers. ➡ https://bit.ly/3qggES5 2️⃣ Ever since smartocto introduced the idea of user needs as a way to both plan and analyse content, media outlets have had questions. It's not surprising: it's a new approach, and probably one that's different to the norm. But how do we support those implementing it? It all starts with education. ➡ https://bit.ly/3Og1nZw 3️⃣ Finding the best angle for your story is only one part of the puzzle: you must also choose a suitable format to present the narrative in. This is something worth considering carefully, and to help you on your way, here are some tips and suggestions to make your stories more engaging. ➡ https://bit.ly/3DxGrbx 4️⃣ During the summer, there are always stories that wouldn't make it into the newsrooms at full capacity. The intensive search for a supposed lion in the German capital, Berlin, perfectly fits that cliché. Read our newsletter if you'd like to know what we're saying about this. ➡ https://bit.ly/3YecM0L

Here’s another one in our series on content shelf life. Let’s take a quick look at the 'News' genre on Google Discover. Now, News peaks fast — 88% of views come by day two. After that? It levels off. So it’s always a good idea to publish news content, but keep in mind your topics of authority and its linkage to news. If it’s news linked to your topic of authority, you're likely to reach more people. It’s always a good idea to be on top of this - and to keep on publishing new fresh content on the same topic till there’s user and competition interest on that topic. What are your thoughts on reach maximisation for news? Comment your ideas! Not sure which topics hit the mark with your readers on Google Discover? Well, Rytstory's here to guide you. Our AI helps pinpoint your top topics, so your stories really pop on Google Discover. Find out more about your top topics with Rytstory. Just call us at 9958455668 to chat! #News #ContentShelfLife #GoogleDiscover #AuthorityTopics #RytstoryAI #NewsTrends #UserEngagement #ContentStrategy #NewsroomTech #AIInsights #MediaImpact #DiscoverDeepDive

[Every Thursday, I publish an impact story...usually earlier in the day] #impact #reach Did you know that in less than a month 400 journalists and media entrepreneurs have joined the Journalism Innovation Network? Creating a journalism newsletter or a podcast, or coming up with a new tool to help us better serve our audiences doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavour. Come join this vibrant community to connect, share, and learn. 🤗 Join the conversation and share your challenges, ask for advice, or simply let us know about your latest media experiment 💫, even if it didn't work out well 💣. If you’re passionate about news-driven innovations or media entrepreneurship, this is the space for you to JOIN. You'll also get exclusive access to the newsletter and podcast, packed with opportunities and insights. 👇🏻 #collaboration #community #innovation #jin

My top 3 learnings for writing a newsletter while running my boutique research & strategy company: 1. Be conscious of investment of time, energy and money to avoid burnout and ensure sustainability 2. Think about your value proposition. Think again 3. Use platform features well While I have your attention, I also want to share some great thinking from Robert Wu on the future of his personal newsletter: https://lnkd.in/d7YNfRcq Are you actively involved in creating your company's newsletters? Do you relate to these learnings, or do you have your own experiences to share? What role do you think newsletters play when everyone has a voice and an opinion? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #newsletter #creatoreconomy #substack #beehiiv https://lnkd.in/dSjNh_Gw

When you're pitching out to journalists, you've got to ask yourself "what reason do they have to link to my website?" Sure, some journalists will add a link to your homepage as you've done them a favour by providing them with content. But plenty won't. To make your outreach bulletproof, think about creating bits of content that NEED to be linked to so users can get the full experience on your website. Interactive tools and data-vis for large datasets are two great ways to achieve this. At the end of the day, the journalist is there to serve their readers and them alone. Take that same mindset and you might just see the benefit yourself.

“A lot of people have asked me” is a sentence that gets thrown around a lot here on LinkedIn. In this case it’s actually true. In the last couple of weeks I’ve talked to a handful of Danish publishers (and a few abroad) about userneeds and how we are working with them at Berlingske Media. (Somehow I get the feeling it accelerated after you had me on the Journalism.co.uk podcast, Jacob 😊) I’m always happy to share learnings and battle scars and no longer being a consultant means I don’t have to charge money for it — which somehow makes it all easier 😉 I always try to tailor my story and advice to the publisher or organization I’m talking to. But a question I get a lot, where the answer so far remains the same, is on how to get started with userneeds. Because you shouldn’t start with the huge change project where you talk values, work on developing audiences and so on. All that will come once you start working with userneeds — it’s almost inevitable. Instead: Start small. Do an analysis of what you have published within a certain timespan — or within a certain section. Then look at the data. Are they trying to tell you something? Usually just doing a simple count — which I believe would also be one of Dmitry’s suggestions (who invented the original model) — can give some insight, at least a picture of how your journalism/content looks through the eyes of the user. The thinking behind userneeds is similar to what we do when working with Value Proposition Canvas, Jobs To Be Done etc., but those tools and frameworks don’t really scale well in a newsroom. The userneeds model does. And when you have your analysis (probably through a couple of iterations) show it to someone. And if you believe in it, get it to people who can make change happen — or who will at least acknowledge the findings. You can’t create any change without the support of management. But that support is so much easier to get if you are presenting an analysis and some genuine insights (which can address some of your problems or pains) — and not just a model or a way of thinking. Think like a consultant: You need to make a smaller sale which can both provide value to the customer and show what the tool can do. After that you can talk bigger projects 😉 #userneeds #digitalmedia #onlinemedia #mediaanalysis #dkmedier

"🚀 Dive into a World of Insightful Content on [https://lnkd.in/da6tt-Zv] 🚀 Passionate about [New trending topics]? 🌐 Explore thought-provoking articles, expert insights, and valuable resources on[https://lnkd.in/dRx7cFXH] What makes us unique? ✨ Rich Content: Engage with in-depth articles, how-tos, and captivating stories. ✨ Community Connection: Join discussions, share your thoughts, and connect with like-minded individuals. ✨ Stay Updated: Be at the forefront of [trending topics] trends and developments. Embark on a journey of knowledge and discovery. Click the link to start exploring: [https://lnkd.in/dRx7cFXH] Knowledge is power, and it's all here at your fingertips. 🌍 #Blogspot #KnowledgeSharing #ExploreWithUs"