This was originally written for the Columbia Missourian, where I’m the editor of a not-quite-named team focusing on the community.
There are a lot more ways we in the newsroom can listen to you than there used to be. And I think we have an obligation to do so.
We can listen to what you say in the comments on our website, and we can join in the conversation.
We can listen to what you’re saying online in general, on social networks (did you know Twitter will search by location?) and on local blogs, for example.
We can spend more time listening in person, attending events and hanging out around town not to cover anything specific, but just to hear what’s on your mind.
We can “listen,” in a way, to what kind of news you’re looking for by paying attention to our web analytics. We can know (collectively, not individually) things such as what you’re reading at what time of day, what you’re searching for and which stories you spend the most time with.
Along with all this information comes a duty to be responsive. If we’re really listening, we should be changing what we’re doing based on what we hear. We should pay attention to what you like, join in the conversations you’re having about the news and respond when you get in touch with us directly, whether you’re walking into the newsroom (which you’re welcome to do anytime — 221 S. Eighth St.) or commenting on our Facebook or Twitter pages.
Continue reading “A changing culture deserves an evolving, responsive newsroom” →