CBS, NBC, USA Today, FoxNews, The New York Times. Each a thriving multi-million dollar corporation. They employ thousands of individuals, and produce wads of daily content. These are the media giants – and what can we learn from them?
The following are methods of production media giants follow when creating TV programs and newspapers. Browse through the topics – and implement these techniques in the collection and writing of content on your blog.
Infotainment
Infotainment is a type of media broadcast that is short, snappy, and sensational. It’s the news we see that delivers the latest stories in short, easy to digest bites. It’s a tedious balance of information and entertainment.
Bloggers need to incorporate Infotainment in every blog post. Find a way to blend your information with an entertainment aspect. It will attract readers, and keep long time followers content. Use graphics, humor, or whatever “fits” with the overall feel of your blog.
Wire Services
A Wire Service is a newsgathering agency that gathers news, and sells it to newspapers and television programs. Although bloggers don’t need to pay for the latest in news – find a way to use your current reader base as your own wire service.
Invite your readers to share the latest news pertaining to your blog’s niche, and turn those leads into blog content. As your readership grows – so will your “wire service.” Social media is also a superb method of gathering content for your blog.
Beats & Routines
In media terminology, a beat is a routine which reporters follow when checking for news – day in and day out. Bloggers do the same. We wake up, check Google Reader, log onto Twitter, browse emails, and post comments on a few random blogs.
What’s important to remember here is that a well defined “beat” or routine should be followed each morning. Accomplish your beat each morning, and THEN begin working on other tasks.
Learn from the media giants and develop content from press releases, local newspapers, and feeds.
Templates
All media giants have a standard template or “feel” they want all products to emulate. For example: some newspapers have a resounding Liberal feel, while others, are strictly Conservative.
After compiling every blog post, and before hitting the Publish button – make sure your latest content promotes the feel of your blog that you’re trying to achieve. Is my blog funny, sad, and/or pessimistic?
Allowing yourself to follow some form of standard template when writing will make your readers feel at home, and “comfortable” while reading your content. You don’t want to jump around like a crazed chihuahua before feeding time.
Leaks
Leaking is when politicians or news services generate attention or commotion for a product or person by releasing key information to the general public. This is an art form.
For bloggers leaking can be especially useful when releasing a new book or product, generating attention to a highly anticipated contest, or developing a following for a new blog. Experiment with leaking – and find ways to generate anticipation for your blog products.
Is It Newsworthy?
Decisions on what media publications print or air is decided upon by trained editorial professionals. In the case of your blog – you are the professional.
Think to yourself: What do my readers want? Factors such as novelties, drama, high stakes, and celebrities – all play a huge roll in attracting reader attention. News media must appeal to wide audiences and generate further subscriptions – which ultimately helps in increasing ad revenue.
Emulate the same in your blog, and develop ways to increase readership, and attract followers.
Conclusion
Although large media giants may be cynical and/or bias – we can still learn from their exquisite display of media processing techniques. Each day they handle thousands of news feeds, leaks, and press releases – and turn out page after page of well written content.
Most blogs are run as a one man (or woman) show, but with the right attitude and news gathering techniques – you can easily turn out well written content. Just like the big boys.
