The Dayton Daily News has launched a press release tool on its Web site that allows community organizations to upload their own press releases, much like other, similar press release tools.
Here’s where Dayton’s approach gets unique: The tool automatically syndicates headlines to other sections of the newspaper’s Web site, so the entertainment section, for example, has the headlines from the most recent entertainment-related press releases. In addition, the tool automatically alerts the appropriate news editors when a press release is uploaded, and the tool will soon interface with the newspaper’s events calendar. Spam prevention? They have that covered, too.
Citizen Journalism and Newspaper Web Sites: The Revolution will be Uploaded
From cranky bloggers who cover town council meetings to newsy non-profit collectives and social networks, non-professional news sites are changing the face of journalism online. With more than 450 citizen journalism sites now dotting the U.S., these largely volunteer-driven sites provide yet another challenge--and opportunity--for mainstream newspaper publishers.
From building social networks to experimenting with crowdsourcing and other online extensions to traditional newsgathering, many newspapers are also trying to build their own platforms for people-powered news. Learn from the experiences of the Fort Myers News-Press and learn how independent, online citizen journalism operations in San Diego and central New Hampshire have affected the daily newspapers there.