+Can (must?) there be a fundamental shift to empowering local information sources to deliver news through local media in new ways
+New days: Self-publish
Youth sports team, garden club, private school can: Post news instantly to their own website (very low cost) Post news instantly to their own Facebook page (free) Email news to their community (almost free) Record videos of their news and post to their own YouTube
Channel (very low cost) Tweet news or links to their news/videos (free) Post blogs with unlimited word counts and freedom to
expound on topics important to them/their communities (free)
+Individuals can do all of the above …and more … with their news
Their engagements/weddings Their children’s births Their promotions Their winning shots Their opinions
+News sources self-publish
Public schools, local governments, chambers of commerce all doing the same thing …
All have websites, social media feeds … audience just a click away
ALL GOING DIRECT
+Communities still need objective journalism None of this replaces the need for journalism:
Reporting Story telling Fact-finding Exposing Uncovering Spotlighting Giving context, background, history
+We need both
We agree that self-publishing & direct digital marketing do not replace journalism
But if both the advertisers and lots of the information sources no longer need us as badly …..
Don’t we need to do different?
+Appeal to the self-publishers
Embrace local news and information that comes direct Make easy Make appealing Make “professional” Give them tools Give them wider reach Give them new audience
Xtraxtra.com
Xtraxtra.comHow it Works
Xtraxtra.comHow it Works
+Xtraxtra.com
South Boston Community Partnership Coordinators (Imani, Mary, Hannah)
How we promote engagement
+Xtraxtra.com
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
Curley Community Teen Center
Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.
Generations Incorporated Notre Dame Education
Center, Inc. South Boston
Neighborhood Development Corporation
South Boston Neighborhood House
West Broadway Task Force
South Boston Danforth Art Framingham Artists Guild Framingham Public
Library Foundation JFS of Metrowest Leadership Metrowest Performing Arts Center of
MetroWest
Framingham English At Large Friends of Medford
Family Network Medford Jr. Mustangs Greater Medford Visiting
Nurses Association
Medford
CambridgeDedham
WeymouthMilton
+Xtraxtra.com Non-profits “ I’m a big believer in this concept and think the idea is very, very cool. The site is easy to use and (Imani) has been a tremendous help. ”
- Daniel Smith, Development, Generations, Inc. – South Boston
“ It’s been a win-win for us. Any free (publicity) for a non-profit is really helpful, and the points system is really cool. We promote our content on xtraxtra through our other social media, but it’s nice to have it on a professionally organized platform that is different than social media.”
- - Kristen King, Marketing & Development Assistant, - Notre Dame Educational Center – South Boston