News Events

Journalism has long brought us together through shared rituals – reading the morning paper, watching the evening news, etc – but as people find the news on more platforms, on their own schedules, those rituals have diminished in importance.

What hasn’t changed, however, is the potential role of local news organizations to build community around the news.

Making it Work

• MinnPost made $160K
• The Times-Free Press made "seven figures"
• The Texas Tribune brought in $1.2 million
• Atlantic Media makes 20% of their revenue

Types of Events

• Industry - GigaOm, Recode
• Ideas - Atlantic, Texas Trib
• Political - NJ Spotlight, TT
• Social - WNYC, Geekwire, Politico

Types of Events

• Lifestyle - Times Free Press
• Culture - Morristown, WBEZ
• Gala/Awards - Technically, MinnPost
• Education/Training - NYT, Brick City Live

Lessons

Find a Gap

Plan Early

Events Are Journalism

Multiple Revenue Streams

Be Transparent

Considerations

• If you build it will they come?
• What is your online game plan?
• Should you capture video/audio?
• Start small or go big?

BrainStorm

What is stopping you?

More Info:
LocalNewsLab.org
bit.ly/eventlessons

@jcstearns