Wednesday morning election update
November 5, 2008 in College Media, Election 2008
Image by jmtimages via FlickrI’ve posted a few more schools to the College Media Election coverage post. I’ll be adding them to the Google map as I get the chance. The list will go on the sidebar eventually as well for future reference. #
A few things to note: I saw a lot of students using Twitter and quite a few using CoverItLive to liveblog the returns. Quite a few maps as well, and lots of video. I’ll be curious to hear reports of how those efforts worked out. #
And kudos to all those student journalists who witnessed and reported history last night as the U.S. elected Barack Obama president. #
And if your student media org isn’t on the list, you can still be added. e-mail me: scmurley -at- gmail.com. #
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What I'd like to hear from college papers is *stats* on their online efforts. Our editors were blogging throughout the day, from lines at polling places around campus, to the university president going to vote, to our reporter in Chicago; we posted photos and videos and a Soundslide slideshow. We had an interactive map of polling places on and near campus. We Twittered. All in all, I'd consider it a very good 'new media' effort.
But when I look at the statistics for how many users read our election blog, for example, the numbers are very small. And I can't say I'm surprised: for most students who were following the election during the day and into the evening, their college newspaper web site was probably one of the last places they'd turn to for information.
So I'm curious to hear from other college papers whether any of the extensive efforts we went to hit a home run and connected with large numbers of readers. What we did was a great experience for our reporters, photographers and editors on a historic day. I just don't know whether all the extra work makes much difference in connecting with the readers we're trying to retain in these times of changing media consumption.