Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
A September list of priorities from mothership Gannett to the editors of its newspapers around the country offers some good insight into what’s ahead for the newspapers, including the Asheville Citizen-Times, in 2010. In fact, we’re already seeing how the directives issued a couple of months ago are playing out here in Asheville.
Story from Editor & Publisher:
Gannett’s daily newspapers are being urged to improve watchdog journalism, reposition web sites for breaking news, and better engage young readers and Sunday readers, according to a list of priorities issued last month during a meeting of some 40 newspaper editors.
These “content priorities,” were presented by Kate Marymont, vice president/news for Gannett’s community publishing division, which includes all of its daily papers except USA Today.
“These were intended to be the key strategies that we believe are important, for them to use in the key decisions about how to use resources,” Marymont said of the priority list, obtained by E&P. “We have asked [editors] to use them as a guide as they develop their strategic plans. It is almost a statement of philosophy rather than a template they have to fill out.”
The Citizen-Times has already been focusing its web site more and more on breaking news and live updates. The newspaper has streamed live video to the Web of various events over the past few months. During last week’s snow storm, the newspaper web site featured tons of photo galleries and a “snow blog” filled with breaking news big and small. It also recently conducted an interactive web chat with Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell.
In terms of engaging Sunday readers, the newspaper recently launched three-day “print exclusive” series on a Sunday, and the newspaper continues to tout the fact that the Sunday paper is filled with coupons for the frugal shopper.
It will be interesting to watch the Citizen-Times execute these priorities, especially with the fact that the newspaper will be furloughing workers in the first quarter of 2010.
If people aren’t buying the printed version what makes the "powers that be" think anyone will pay for the online "content" …. I mean almost anything on the CT site is already available elsewhere for free as it is …. good job J. !
It’s too bad newspapers are in decline. Who will pay for the content that political bloggers snag and post for free?
Not really on topic, but any time I see someone’s post ending in "End of story", I automatically dismiss both the writer and the commentary as overblown egostroking. Anyone so convinced of their own certitude to think that no one else might have a valid take on the subject unless it agrees with theirs is not anyone that it would be helpful or edifying to listen to.
Beginning of story.
more information: You are so right about the constant smoke breaks!!! Every time I drive by I see a couple of desperate fools sucking on cigarettes out back.
I assume it’s stress as much as addiction.
Either way, "reporting" stories about people stealing meat or getting busted with one crack rock are not helping to make it more interesting to read. It’s sad. It will be even sadder when the thing folds up and does business from a strip mall or an office in the Grove Arcade (if they can afford the rent). Stupid, greedy Gannett.
Just lettin ya know…. – thanks for your note. On Dec. 14, I blogged about the return of Gannett Blog here:
http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/journal/2009/12/14/all-hail-the-return-of-gannett-blog.html
Up and running again for the inside scoop on Gannett and what’s coming down the pipe for the ACT.
http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/
LIsa Fields, the retail manager for the CTimes is leaving at the end of December. Another manager, Nicole Smiley is rumored to be leaving as well. These are two key positions in advertising that will need to be filled quickly or more furloughs are in store. Don’t be fooled! The CTimes makes money just not as much money as they used to make.
Chris is spot on when he says that their are interesting stories that just need to be written. Asheville is filled with political favors, underground deals and shady activities. Asheville also has it’s share of generous donors, do gooders, and political activists. I thought that journalists are supposed to dig for the stories. The reporters at the CTimes are too worried about taking their 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. coffee breaks. And, then there is the reporter and the editor that can be found ten – fifteen times a day outside smoking.
Let’s see if Hatchet Hammer survives 2010.
Chris says, "I read a paper from out-of-state and love it so much." Would Chris mind telling us which one, so others can give it a try?
Hey AC-T, here’s an idea: Bring back the "labor" section to your newspaper. Focus on the plight of he working poor – and you just might find yourself relevant again.
I my opinion, these new guidelines been part of of the "old" way of running a newspaper for many, many years.
(be a) watchdog
break the news
attract new readers
have interesting stories
What exactly do these "No Shit Sherlock" people at Gannett Corporate do to justify their wages?
The problem is not identifing what newspapers need to do, it is showing them that they SUCK at it!
The AC-T is boring. Their stories are available from other (free) sources long before they appear in the newspaper.
An old, thought-he-was-smart editor used to say, "local, local, local."
He was so wrong.
People are interested in "interesting" no matter where it happened.
I read a paper from out-of-state and love it so much. Not one "local" story affects me in any way. I read the story ( and savor it BTW) because it is well-written and interesting.
Locally, I will read anything written by Margaret Williams because she makes it interesting.
Google search for Tom French.
Read his work and you’ll see what I mean.
You will see that there are local stories that need to be told. You will also see that the AC-T just sucks at telling them.
It’s useless beating a dead horse.
Nothing will every revive the fortunes or status of the Citizen-Times in this city and region.
It is hard to even look at the paper it has gotten so bad. Print or online, there is nothing worth reading.
End of story.
Deck chairs, Titanic…