With newspapers and print publications losing steam with younger audiences, many papers are turning to social media to stay relevant.
From posting news stories to tweeting breaking news events, many newspapers across the country are using social media to their advantage, looking to stay relevant in an ever-changing world of information delivery.
Here are just a few newspapers going social and how exactly they’re doing it:
Facebook and Twitter – The New News Standard
Everybody in the publication world is predicting that newspapers will disappear within the next decade.
Whether this is true or not, some of the most popular newspapers in the country are already putting a lot of effort in their social presence.
When it comes to Facebook, The New York Times already has well over 9 million likes. Coming in at a close second, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and USA Today all have 2 to 3 million likes. This is compared to just five years ago when these publications had anywhere from 20,000 to 70,000 likes.
Likewise, The New York Times also has more than 16 million Twitter followers, which is up from 280,000 followers five years ago.
The Washington Post has also made strides in the Twitter arena by increasing its followers from just fewer than 5,000 to just over 4 million in the past five years.
Social Relevance
As the following article looks at, based on the numbers above, there is the question of should newspapers let Facebook host their content?
Well, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or any of the other social avenues, it all boils down to relevance.
Newspapers aren’t necessarily turning to social media to push content, but rather to become more relevant with new readers.
Sure, getting news stories across to the social public is part of the equation, but staying relevant with younger audiences is the main goal.
The world of print is changing and if newspapers want to stay in business, they have to adapt to the digital age. Social media is a stepping-stone in the process.
How Are Newspapers Making the Change?
The news world hasn’t abandoned print completely.
As long as there is still a readership that loves the feel of paper and the smell of ink, newspapers will stay in print.
However, there are a number of ways newspapers are making the transition to social media.
They include:
• Facebook Pages – Almost every major newspaper publication in the country now has a Facebook page. Through Facebook, newspapers are reaching more new followers and posting news stories that would otherwise be overlooked.
• Twitter Feeds – Newspapers are also using Twitter to share breaking news stories, poll readers, and even ask for the public’s help in reporting stories. Thanks to Twitter, the idea of social journalism is now a legitimate practice.
• Editorial Events – A growing number of newspapers are using Google+ Hangouts and Twitter to host editorial events. These events allow journalists and readers to discuss news events in a forum-style environment.
• Apps – Many newspapers are also creating apps that allow readers to stay connected from just about any mobile device. Newspaper apps are changing the way readers interact with the news.
From Facebook to Twitter and every social site in between, newspapers all across the country are truly taking on a social mindset.
Photo credit: Image courtesy of hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1QJwCsf via transformational marketing
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1KuuzUv
No comments:
Post a Comment