Comments on: Wednesday morning election update http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/11/wednesday-morning-election-update/ a group discussion about the future of student media Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:43:21 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Eric Jacobs http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/11/wednesday-morning-election-update/comment-page-1/#comment-388670 Eric Jacobs Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:21:44 +0000 http://www.collegemediainnovation.org/blog/2008/11/05/wednesday-morning-election-update/#comment-388670 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. 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.

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