Entertainment reporter, Democrat & Chronicle newspaper
Rochester, NY
* If you'd be so kind to describe the type of work you do, where you work, how long you have worked there, etc.
I am an entertainment reporter for the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper in Rochester, NY. I write primarily for the paper's features section and its weekly Young Reader Publication called Insider magazine. I cover everything from music and arts to people profiles and nightlife.
I am an entertainment reporter for the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper in Rochester, NY. I write primarily for the paper's features section and its weekly Young Reader Publication called Insider magazine. I cover everything from music and arts to people profiles and nightlife.
* Also, how have you seen social networking affect the industry? What tools have you used to keep up to date with target audiences?
Social networking has really brought personality back into the news/communications industry. Where as mainy people think traditional news is dying (newspapers, radio, etc.), those type of industries that can make a better transition to the online components will survive. We have a Twitter, Facebook and MySpace page for Insider magazine. Each is pretty active and each, especially the MySpace page, serves as a great way to get story ideas. On top of that all of our reporters have our own personal social networking pages and it allows the readers to connect with us more. Basically, the communications industry's biggest challenge is getting young people to by in to it. Our target audience is ages 18 to 35. We can't just expect people to pick up the magazine or the paper just because it's there. You have to be out there. A part of your community and nowadays that means the online community as well. If they care about you as a person, they'll read your stuff.
Social networking has really brought personality back into the news/communications industry. Where as mainy people think traditional news is dying (newspapers, radio, etc.), those type of industries that can make a better transition to the online components will survive. We have a Twitter, Facebook and MySpace page for Insider magazine. Each is pretty active and each, especially the MySpace page, serves as a great way to get story ideas. On top of that all of our reporters have our own personal social networking pages and it allows the readers to connect with us more. Basically, the communications industry's biggest challenge is getting young people to by in to it. Our target audience is ages 18 to 35. We can't just expect people to pick up the magazine or the paper just because it's there. You have to be out there. A part of your community and nowadays that means the online community as well. If they care about you as a person, they'll read your stuff.
*Do you think it's becoming easier or harder to reach consumers? Why?
It's always becoming harder, especially since older people are running most communication companies. Baby boomers are dying, yet baby boomers are running newspapers and radio stations. So now you have these late 40 and 50-something trying to sit around at a table and come up with ways to reach 20-somethings. That's never gonna work. To me, that's why newspapers are dying. When the technology is going to video, we're just beginning to do Podcasts. When Twitter blows up, we don't even know what Facebook is. I think a lot of communications companies are going to have to swallow their pride are start letting younger, more innovative people show them the new wave of reaching out to consumers.
It's always becoming harder, especially since older people are running most communication companies. Baby boomers are dying, yet baby boomers are running newspapers and radio stations. So now you have these late 40 and 50-something trying to sit around at a table and come up with ways to reach 20-somethings. That's never gonna work. To me, that's why newspapers are dying. When the technology is going to video, we're just beginning to do Podcasts. When Twitter blows up, we don't even know what Facebook is. I think a lot of communications companies are going to have to swallow their pride are start letting younger, more innovative people show them the new wave of reaching out to consumers.
*Twitter is really beginning to take off, does your business Twitter? Why or why not?
We tweet. You'll notice that anything that's hot and popular, every company will jump on that. I'm not sure our paper really understands social networking, but God knows they're trying.
We tweet. You'll notice that anything that's hot and popular, every company will jump on that. I'm not sure our paper really understands social networking, but God knows they're trying.
*What do you see for the future of social networking?
The future of social networking is that it'll continue to get older and more mature. The average age on Facebook and Twitter continues to go up. It's because people are finally realizing that they can use something once considered to only be for college and high-school kids, to help further their business or career. However, the people that will succeed at it are the ones who can bring everything together. The ones who can offer services and products while offering news and entertainment at the same time.
The future of social networking is that it'll continue to get older and more mature. The average age on Facebook and Twitter continues to go up. It's because people are finally realizing that they can use something once considered to only be for college and high-school kids, to help further their business or career. However, the people that will succeed at it are the ones who can bring everything together. The ones who can offer services and products while offering news and entertainment at the same time.
*Do you think social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogging, etc.) are successful? Why, why not?
Well, Facebook and MySpace are two fo the most visited sites on teh Internet. Blogging has become the new journalism and Twitter is the fatest way I've ever seen to get straight news. I'd say social networking sites are as successful, because people are talking about them and using them. That's all that matters.
Well, Facebook and MySpace are two fo the most visited sites on teh Internet. Blogging has become the new journalism and Twitter is the fatest way I've ever seen to get straight news. I'd say social networking sites are as successful, because people are talking about them and using them. That's all that matters.
For more information on Troy or the Democrat and Chronicle Newspaper visit www.democratandchronicle.com/
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment