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Some news publishers will turn content over to Facebook
Let's face it. Facebook is not set up to be a responsive corporate partner to small, local, independent news sites. Have you ever tried to get a problem with your Facebook presence resolved? Feel like anyone is listening when you complain about massive drop-offs in how many people who CHOSE to follow your content are actually seeing it in their Facebook timelines?
Against that backdrop comes news that a handful of (huge) news publishers such as the New York Times and Buzzfeed are planning to turn their content over to be hosted on Facebook in some kind of advertising revenue share partnership.
"OH HELL NO!," says Ryan Chittum in Columbia Journalism Review, echoing the initial sentiment of many LION members and other journalists.
That's on issues of journalistic integrity and control alone. Local independent news publishers might not even have the opportunity to tell Facebook where it can put its content hosting plan. A big, secondary issue for local journalism in this move is that Facebook is likely to partner only with, or at least focus heavily on, giant corporate media partners. Independent journalists could be left out of such a deal, but equally suffer what are sure to be accompanying consequences. Who doesn't expect Facebook to continue choking off the ability of news publishers who don't partner or advertise to reach their own followers?
In case you missed it:
- The Facebook deal gets the Ken Doctor treatment.
- Steve Buttry points to lots of precedent and cautionary tales of over-dependence on an entity like Facebook.
- Al Tompkins at Poynter raises 6 questions about the arrangement.
- Josh Benton at Nieman Lab tackles the larger issue of distributed content.
LION member spotlight: Universal Hub
In this week's LION member Q&A, founder and publisher Adam Gaffin talks about how Universal Hub is "of Boston," not just "in Boston," and why that sets his site apart in a crowded media market.
His advice to others starting their own independent local news site includes getting used to "rejection."
He also talks about his experience covering Boston's horrible winter of record-breaking snowfall:
"News has become a conversation rather than one-to-many, and I'm just constantly amazed by the amount of news and tips I get. Almost all of my coverage of our (record-setting, woot, Title Town!) snowpocalypse came via reports and photos folks sent in via Twitter, Facebook and e-mail - from constant updates on the most ludicrous space savers and angry notes about space savers to reports on the latest horrid conditions at the local commuter-rail stations. One cool thing: If somebody sees something and wants an explanation and I have no clue, I'll tweet their query, and in many cases, somebody else will have the answer."
Ad revenue alternatives added to free LION webinar lineup
"Beyond Simple Display Ads," an April 23 presentation on directories, targeted ads, and other options to improve your advertising portfolio and expand your inventory on your way to more revenue, has been added to LION's lineup of free webinars for members only.
Others in our webinar series so far include "What happened to my Facebook reach?" on Friday, April 3, "Foundation funding and underwriting" on May 7, and "Benefit Corporations" on June 3.
For more information and to register, click here.
Free workshops on dissecting Census data offered
The U.S. Census Bureau is offering a free "Data on a Deadline" webinar series for journalists looking to know more about how to access demographic, socioeconomic, housing and business data from Census reports.
They are being billed as helping journalists:
- Identify great stories.
- Enhance your stories with quality statistics
- Investigate trends and issues.
- Find data for advertising, circulation, and promotion.
- Learn about online resources for the media.
- Sign up to receive news releases, tip sheets, and data embargo access.
The schedule for April, with each webinar happening from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., except where noted:
- Data on a Deadline: Quick Data Reports & Interactive Maps, April 2, http://bit.ly/1CRZvwy; and April 20, 9-11:30 a.m., http://bit.ly/1BOAU6n.
- Your Community by the Numbers: Introduction to American Fact Finder with Thematic Mapping, April 3, http://bit.ly/1ye4uBT; and April 7, http://bit.ly/1Bua1ps.
- Advanced American Fact Finder with Thematic & Geographic Mapping (Accessing Data for Neighborhood Level), April 8, 2-4:30 p.m., http://bit.ly/1EYyHtM; April 13, http://bit.ly/1M5XS4p; and April 27, 9-11:30 a.m., http://bit.ly/1GuTsiS.
- Migration : Where are we moving?, April 14, 2015 1-3:30 p.m., http://bit.ly/1D2yQPe.
- LED – On the Map, April 15, http://bit.ly/1M5YfMh.
- Race, Ethnicity, Foreign Born, and Ancestry: Your Community by the Numbers, April 16, 1-2:30 p.m., http://bit.ly/1BOAI77; and April 30, http://bit.ly/1OB9drX.
- Data Ferret: Access and Cross Tabulation of American Community Survey-PUMS Data, April 17, http://bit.ly/1Bsyz1d.
- Hispanics by the Numbers, April 22, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., http://bit.ly/1HMvroR.
- Older Population In America, April 23, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., http://bit.ly/19109M3.
- Open for Business: Accessing Business and Economic Data, April 24, 2-4:30 p.m., http://bit.ly/1Ne0SbS.
For more information, contact Alexandra Barker at 617-519-1099 or alexandra.s.barker@census.gov.
Look up past LION newsletters
Was there a link from a few weeks ago you had meant to check out, but didn't? You can now access all past LION newsletters at www.lionpublishers.com/newsletters. That's also where you can send colleagues and friends who might be interested in signing up to receive them.
Tools and Tips: Advertising and Revenue
CROWDFUNDING: Why crowdfunded journalism pioneer Spot.Us died but crowdfunded journalism lives on. Also, how one journalist successfully crowdfunds her work.
DIGITAL DISPLAY: Facebook and Twitter could own 33 percent of digital display ad market by 2017.
MEMBERSHIPS: Rethinking the membership model to support journalism sites.
NATIVE ADVERTISING: Is native advertising and sponsored content really transparent enough for the casual reader?
MOBILE: (For the millionth time), a major shift to mobile advertising is coming.
SEARCH: Mobile display ads outperform search in delivering new customers.
Tools and Tips: Journalism
MOBILE: "I've changed my mind about responsive design."
PINTEREST: Five tips for publishers for using Pinterest.
SEARCH: A new Google search algorithm penalizing sites that aren't mobile friendly rolls out starting April 21.
SOUNDCLOUD: How six news organizations are using Soundcloud.
TWITTER: Can online publications live without Twitter? And a Pew study finds that "local news is hard to find on Twitter."
VIDEO: Facebook has unveiled a YouTube-like feature allowing their videos to be embedded on other sites. Meanwhile, Twitter has introduced Periscope, a livestreaming service that could kill off the hot new Twitter-focused livestreaming service Meerkat. Here's a look at five livestreaming apps for journalists.
Industry News
RACIAL PROFILING, NEXT DOOR: The "hyperlocal" social network has become a platform for racial profiling.
A $2 DAILY NEWSPAPER: After being hit with multiple rounds of layoffs in the newsroom over the past few years, the Gatehouse-owned Providence Journal is increasing the single copy price of its weekday print edition from $1 to $2.
PRINT-LIKE EDITIONS, ONLINE: The Times of London is switching from continuous posting of news throughout the day to a series of daily scheduled "editions" on its website.
PAYWALLS: They're coming at Cox newspapers.
GROUPON: It's not a success.
DIGITAL DIVERSITY: Digital news outlets are running laps around legacy media in coverage of issues affecting and relating to minority populations.
NEWSPAPER VALUATIONS: Steve Buttry breaks down the precipitous drop in the valuation of legacy newspaper companies.
Is Your LION Publishers Membership Up for Renewal?
For many of our LION Publishers members, it's time to renew! Your membership includes participation in the LION Publishers Den on Facebook, networking and support from fellow LION publishers, our new newsletter, discounted rates on media liability and directors and officers insurance and more.
Plus, being a member gives you access to a members-only rate to the LION Summit – a savings of up to $175 compared to the non-member rate. If your membership is due for renewal, please go to www.lionpublishers.com/members/dues to submit your payment. Those who opt for multi-year membership save, and easy, secure payment options are available via credit card or through Paypal. (Not sure when your membership expires? You can look it up easily on LIONPublishers.com.)
Thanks to our current members who have already renewed!
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