Managing change

Divulging plans for change and how to get support
Facilitated by Michael Williams and Vikki Porter

We need to give ourselves time to be flexible, said Michael Williams. “Change is an interesting game in that there are so many dynamics at play when you talk about change,” he said. “Sometimes you forget to consider what is really going on,” he said. “You get so motivated by the end result.”

Dynamics of change:

1. Disrupts people’s habits. People feel awkward and self-conscious.
2. People almost always focus initially on what they have to give up to accomplish change.
3. People feel alone even if everyone else is going through the same thing.
4. People can only handle so much change. But remember, said Williams, this business has been changing rapidly, unpredictably and uncomfortably for decades.
5. People are at different levels of readiness for change.
6. People will be concerned that they don’t have enough resources.
7. People perceive that change takes time and effort, even if it has the long-term effect of reducing workload. 

10 Reasons There’s a Bright Future for Journalism by Mark Glaser

1. More access to more journalism worldwide
a. The Internet gives us access to content from newspapers, TV channels, blogs and podcasts from around the world. No longer are we limited to our local media for news of the world. Now we can go directly to that corner of the world to get a local angle from far away.

2. Personalization satisfies readers.
a. Whether through Google News or personalizing My Yahoo or an RSS newsfeed reader, we can get quick access to the media outlets and journalism we want on one web page.

3. Digital delivery offers more ways to reach people.

4. There are more fact-checkers than ever in the history of journalism.

5. Collaboration between pro and amateur journalists.

6. More voices are part of the news conversation.

7. Greater transparency and a more personal tone.
a. Thanks to blogs and the web

8. Growing advertising revenues online.
a. Some complain that online ads aren’t bringing in enough revenues. Almost every forecast for online advertising shows double-digit percentage increases in revenues over the next five years.

9. An online shift from print could improve our environmental impact.

10. Stories never end.
a. Online, stories can live on for much longer in flexible formats, allowing people to update them in comments or add more facts as they happen.

THE ACID TEST: Before you use that chart, map, graphic, blog or link, ask yourself the following questions.

Does it ADD information or does it simply repeat information? We have a finite amount of time and space to produce things. If it doesn’t add to the information, question whether it is worth the effort.

Does it CLARIFY points you are trying to make? Does it help reader understand what your points are?

Is it INTERACTIVE?

Does it add to the overall package DESIGN? Don’t clutter your presentation with charts, maps, images, etc. It DIMINISHES the impact if your presentation is too busy.

Which TECHNIQUE or TECHNOLOGY is most appropriate for the kind of information you have (chart, clog, twitter link, link period)?

How ELABORATE or fancy does it need to be? Sometimes we get too fancy when we don’t need to. Simple is always better.

Is this story so SIGNIFICANT that it needs extra stuff added to it?

How much TIME is needed to produce it?

Potential resources:

The Webby Awards
The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. Established in 1996, the Webbys are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The Academy, a 550-member body, includes leading Web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities. The 11th Annual Webby Awards received over 8,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states.

J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
J-Lab is about citizen journalism—the notion that just about anybody can be a journalist. J-Lab helps journalists and citizens use digital technologies as a way to connect and interact.

Check out the following links on J-Lab:
-Cool Stuff
-Knight Batten Awards: Awards for innovations in journalism

A list of things that people will take away from this conference:
Twitter
Geo coding (tag)
Linking
RSS
Keywords
Chunks (recognizing that readers read in small chunks)
Tags
Subject Tags
Text messaging
Voice/tone
Reverse publishing (putting things online first & then printing on paper)
“Oops” Widget in every story that allows people to report inaccuracies
Games
Ways to hand out expensive devices
Access
Better marketing
Transparency
Training
Scenario Planning
Rewards/perks
Word of mouth (giving users toolbar that would allow them to dig your story)
Moderating Comments (rethinking how to do it)
Image
Approachable
Reach to rebate
Content (blogs)
KMZ/file
The Wall
Mobile video commentary
Instant editorial
Multiple media
Editorial/blog
Video café connection
Issue of one to many versus many to many

Search engine optimization:
The value of headline writing is absolutely true, but what’s even more critical are key words - and more specifically - the key word phrases that you use in significant places in your copy.

Headlines are an important place to make sure key word phrases are in place.