25 Ideas Nonprofit Newsrooms Can't Ignore

(Source: poynter.org)

A small team of experts from the journalism website Poynter visited about 10 for-profit and nonprofit news organizations in 2015 to collect and share at an event called the Nonprofit News Exchange.
​
Here are 25 ideas that emerged from many of the newsrooms the experts visited, that anyone can apply in their own newsroom.

1. Understand your mission

When building a team, look for people who understand their mission and communicate the key points of the job clearly. This is an advantage that startups seem to have over established news organizations that are trying to pivot and struggling to get their staff to adjust.

2. Start with a new idea

There needs to be a good, fresh concept of content that can meet the needs of a previously unmet audience. The idea may need some tweaking when it is put into practice, but to survive, the idea must first be unique.

3. Internal training

Data journalism experts are needed to produce impactful investigative reporting, but they are hard to find and can be quite expensive. Look for opportunities to train your own staff and allow them to develop their expertise and skills on the job.

4. Find a partner

Consider content collaborations or partnerships. For smaller news organizations, this is a great way to leverage your reporting and reach a larger audience. Sometimes there is a fee for content, but the partnership is often worth it.

5. Don't waste money on things you can get for free

Before you spend a fortune on strategic analytics software or any other digital tool, consider more affordable options. Companies like Google and the Knight Foundation have a wealth of free tools for journalists.

6. Be more “social”

Social media allows for a large audience to be reached and engaged, as well as being a valuable source of news content. Take the time to build a social media strategy and empower your employees to use social media to support their work and connect with their audiences.

7. Put the audience first

Effective audience participation is a powerful way to build brand loyalty, something every news organization craves. You can’t succeed by just doing superficial things like asking for feedback or providing news. If you think about audience participation from the start, you’re more likely to have stories that stand out from your competitors.

8. Empower your audience

The possibilities for engaging with your audience, especially local audiences, are endless. Reaching out to your audience and engaging with them is key to your success. Look for meaningful opportunities to incorporate your audience’s opinions and perspectives into your news production.

9. Let people talk

When choosing news content, especially for investigative reporting projects, look for things that will get people talking and even lead to community events.

10. Make the most of your data

Keep a close eye on the data to see what’s trending and make your publishing decisions. What topics are readers most interested in? Which stories aren’t getting attention? By getting metrics on page views, time spent on site, social shares, etc., you can ensure your reporting resonates with your readers.

11. But know that there are things that cannot be measured.

You can't rely solely on numbers. There are activities that can't be quantified, and that's okay.

12. You are operating like a business

A grand strategic vision is meaningless without a solid business plan. Remember to put a lot of planning and effort into the business side of your organization, even if it is a nonprofit.

13. Operate at low cost

Even the biggest startup news outlets often operate out of modest offices. Some companies choose to pay competitive salaries to attract talent, but others look for dedicated employees willing to take a job for a little less than they would pay elsewhere.

14. Diversify income sources

Major sources of revenue for nonprofit news organizations may include event hosting, membership fees, local funds, and individual donations.

15. Coordinate revenue sources

There is no single revenue approach that will work in every situation. Experiment with different approaches and consider which opportunities are best suited to your mission, audience, and position.

16. Think beyond advertising

Because of their low traffic, many news sites can operate more successfully with sponsorships than with advertising alone. Through events, exclusive sponsorships, or simply brand mentions, businesses implicitly show their support for the constructive work of the site and its readers.

17. Track impact

Measuring impact is challenging, but well worth the effort. Sponsors value the impact your news organization has on their audience. Find ways to track the results of your coverage.

18. Always move forward so you don't fall behind.

Running a nonprofit is both a sprint and a marathon. Keep innovating and innovating or you'll be left behind.

19. Get up quickly after failure

Newsrooms need to continually experiment to stay abreast of changes in the industry. Experiment as quickly as possible, at the lowest cost possible, and as often as possible. If an experiment doesn’t work, learn from it and apply it to the next time.

20. Take care of yourself

Founders, managers, and team leaders spend so much time and energy on their employees that they forget about themselves. Delegate tasks and take time to rest. Leaders who set a good example will lead a productive team.

21. Focus on corporate culture

Company culture is the invisible glue that holds an organization together. Be smart and build a culture that values ​​collaboration, innovation, and teamwork.

22. Find a digital expert

Find employees who can bring a digital-first mindset to the organization, and empower them to collaborate and share knowledge. Don’t leave it all to the “young people.”

23. Share costs with other organizations

Initially, consider sharing office space with a more established nonprofit that can perform some of the same functions.

24. Succession planning

Once you've overcome all the challenges, think about succession planning. Key people like you will eventually decide to retire or move up the ladder. Make sure your organization continues to thrive.

25. When all else fails, go for a walk.

Sometimes the best solution to a technical problem is to unplug the device, take a break, and then plug it back in. The same is true for humans. People often forget how restorative it is to get out of the office and get some fresh air.

According to vietnamplus.vn