Alison Gow, executive editor, digital, Liverpool Echo and Liverpool Daily Post
Blogging can help anyone wanting to learn more about online journalism: I started a blog so I could explore both the technical aspects and the cultural/ethical side of writing or storytelling online and, honestly, it's been invaluable. I can't stress enough how much blogging can help anyone wanting to learn more about online journalism, engaging communities, growing audience, for example. I can also do website tweaks now — basic, but nevertheless, very satisfying. I'm on Blogger (it was the simplest to set up when I was a newbie and required very little knowledge) but I'm now moving to Wordpress because I want to learn how to move a blog from one platform to another.
Exchange unpaid contributions for a link to your blog or website: If you choose to give your work in exchange for a byline to build up your portfolio then fair enough but make sure you get credited in print and your website/blog is linked to if the work is used online. If a newspaper wants to use words, photos, video, for example from a third party then they should strike a deal with the creator of that content. And they should check the facts of it independently — that's just common journalistic sense.
An online journalist has to be an authentic part of the online community: You can't dip in and take without participating — try it and you soon get found out. Social media gives a reporter the opportunity to position themselves back in a community and reconnect. I think social media means the control of stories is no longer restricted to those working within the news industry. Information can't be held back to fit print deadlines — similarly, stories don't need to end with the last full stop. People can share, comment, add to existing news stories, or post their own news online in myriad formats. This, I think, means a newsroom has to be far more aware of its audience's needs and demands than before and that is a good thing.
You should participate and comment on other people's blogs: If you don't have a blogroll, start one, and when you do blog make sure you link to sources that have helped or interested you in writing this one. You need to participate — comment on other people's blogs if they are pertinent (avoid spammy comments, give an opinion and see how the conversation develops so you can jump back in) - and if you're not on Twitter then set up an account, fill in your profile with your blog URL as your website and then join some Twitter groups that help you find like-minded people. I assume it's listed on Technorati et al ? When you say a weekly blog, does that mean it's updated once a week? If so, you're training your readers to come on a certain day as there won't be anything for them at other times, and it's worth blogging more frequently. If it's on a specific topic, try feeding Delicious links in to your blog of articles you've saved that are relevant. Finally, blogging isn't necessarily about the size of your audience — it's about enjoying what you do, sharing information and considering others' views, so don't stress about it too much.
Laura Oliver, editor, Journalism.co.uk
The availability of information on the internet means a wealth of story ideas: It means possible ways to develop reporting and scope for partnerships. It also means a range of voices reporting/discussing the same topics — both journalists and non-journalists. Some see this as noise, other journalists will try to find innovative ways — whether that's storytelling, speciality, medium — to set themselves apart from this. There are still plenty of core journalism skills that I don't think will or should change with any shift from print to online — fact checking, accuracy, responsible journalism — to name but a few. But many of these can be enhanced by online tools and services, rather than a proliferation of online information feeding lazy journalism.
Community, interactivity and using online to boost your output are my top tips: Look at what more you can do online to serve your readership — such as signing up with Twitter and seeking out readers and contacts or getting them involved with interactive features. Not only will this spark new leads, to my mind it creates a more rounded publication, not just a one-way outlet for news. Also, go beyond the walls of your site; look for other influential sites and bloggers in your space and start a conversation. Build some links and a network.
Interactivity can involve simple things done well and can lead to regular features done for no cost. For example, live blogging an event; linking out to other related bloggers; putting your journalists up for Q&As. The site looks like it provides must-know information for a time-poor audience — how can you help them get an overview of the information that they need? Visualisations/graphics may help too; how about a Google map plotting stories by country so they can quickly scan to see which markets are affected.
There are so many free tools out there that can boost your website's profile, multi-media output and content: For example; linking — how about embedding a Publish2 widget or similar of relevant news links to your industry from other sites? Or creating RSS feeds for individual sections? Or a Google calendar for when research is being released?
Alison White, community moderator, The Guardian
Create opportunities and experience through your own projects: You could always approach your college about starting a news website yourself. You never know, there might be funding available. When I was at school fellow students secured £8,000 to make a film and buy all the equipment which was then donated back to the school. I'm sure there are other keen students who'd like to get involved (such as amateur photographers, bloggers, others keen to break into journalism) That would look amazing on your CV.
Be prepared to work weekends and upload content as a way into online journalism: How about some work experience? Newspapers and other organisations are less well-staffed at weekends, I'm sure they'd appreciate some help with uploading content or other duties. Once you've got to know some people you can always keep in touch in the hope they might point you towards job opportunities or further work experience.
Online journalists need a knowledge of video: It's not too hard to get started with this even if your budget isn't huge. There are simple editing packages available on most computers such as Movie Maker and i Movie. Check out The Flip small video cameras available for less than £100 (usually) which upload content straight to YouTube. Reporters in my old job took them out to breaking stories as they were ideal for catching the scene of the crime, for example, and getting it online in a matter of minutes.
Understand SEO and that news is a package now: You need a good knowledge of SEO and to understand the importance of linking to others and providing added value to the reader. Give them the story but perhaps with a link to a video, an online petition, a Facebook page. News to me seems more of a package now rather than a traditional delivery.
