ONA and AAN getting together today. Warms my heart. #aandigital
— Tyler Machado (@tylermachado) January 26, 2013
ONA brought ONACamp, a full day of digital training, to the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s 2013 Digital Conference on January 26. Presenters from Tumblr, Google, NPR, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Knight News Fellowship worked with more than 130 editors and journalists to improve their digital approach to news.
Keeping in mind the range of work produced by Alternative Newsweeklies, ONACamp focused on new tools and solutions to make their work more awesome. We’ve collected resources so you too can learn how to build better maps with Fusion Tables, reach new audiences with Tumblr, get out of your traditional mindset and think more like a startup, and build better networking strategies.
Below is a list of session resources and quick takeaways from our weekend in San Francisco.
BUILDING ONLINE COMMUNITIES ON TUMBLR
Just asked Tumblr dude @mcoatney about Tumblr, created a Tumblr and then Tumbled – in a span of mere minutes! #aandigital #tumblrception
— Kat Coplen (@tremendouskat) January 26, 2013
Instructor: Mark Coatney, Director/Media Evangelist, Tumblr @mcoatney
With stats about Tumblr’s 165 million monthly unique visits in tout, Mark Coatney outlined best practices for engaging readers (and getting re-blogs) on the platform, all on the heels of news saying “Tumblr” is a more popular Google search term than “blog.”
Resource: Slides
GOOGLE FUSION TABLES 101
Fusion Tables. Who knew data could be so datalicious?!?!?! #AANDigital
— Kelly Ferguson (@RockAKelly) January 26, 2013
Instructor: Vanessa Schneider, Geo Media Program Manager, Google @vanessagene
Google’s Vanessa Schneider showcased examples of how news organizations are using Google Fusion Tables, explored more possibilities and walked those in attendance through making their own map.
Resources:
DIGITAL DIVERSITY
.@nextgenradio says diversifying your newsroom is an ongoing process. Committ to diversity, expand your network, keep learning #AANDigital
— Jeanne Brooks (@jmfbrooks) January 26, 2013
Instructor: Doug Mitchell, NPR, Career Coach, Knowledgewebb.net @nextgenradio
A recruiter and diversity consultant, Doug Mitchell led discussion on how to incorporate diversity into newsroom, with strategies for broadening staff, stories and overall advertising reach and income.
Resource: Prezi
METRICS AND ANALYTICS
Protip from @meghanncir MT @latoyapeterson: ProPublica created PixelPing which tracks stories outside of your own site. #AANDigital #onacamp
— Online News Assn. (@ONA) January 26, 2013
Instructor: Meghann Farnsworth, Manager, Distribution and Online Engagement, California Watch @meghannCIR
Meghann Farnsworth outlined how the right metrics can influence editorial and business strategy by getting fast, smart reads on what’s working and what’s not, drawing on successes CIR has had in monitoring and responding to analytics on individual projects.
Resource: Slides
THINKING LIKE A STARTUP
Post-its, markers and pens. @latoyapeterson begins Thinking Like a Startup #AANDigital twitter.com/jmfbrooks/stat…
— Jeanne Brooks (@jmfbrooks) January 26, 2013
@latoyapeterson talking about the Business Model Canvas, The Lean Startup, and applying startup principles to the news industry. #aandigital
— Soket (@soket2me) January 26, 2013
Instructor: Latoya Peterson, Stanford-Knight Fellow @LatoyaPeterson
Breaking out the post-it notes and looking at the “Business Model Canvas,” Latoya Peterson made the case that even if you aren’t a startup, innovation, creativity and reevaluating “what is” will keep your organization moving forward.
Resource: Slides
NETWORK STRATEGIES
Thanks to @ona and @altweeklies for inviting me to talk social media at #onacamp #aandigital.I stayed up reading your awesome weeklies.
— Deborah Petersen (@DeboraPetersen) January 27, 2013
Instructor: Deborah Petersen, Senior Editor – Mobile & Social Media, San Jose Mercury News @deborapetersen
Deborah Petersen discussed how a strong network strategy calls for finding the readers where they are (an old print circulation strategy) and learning how to leverage all those now many locations together.
Resources:
Want to learn more about past ONACamps? Take a look.
Got an idea for the location of a future ONACamp or want to get more involved? Email Digital Director Jeanne Brooks at jeanne@journalists.org.