New technologies quickly spread news
There are times when a newspaper newsroom is like any other office job, filled with deadlines and distractions, but just another day at work.
Then there are days like last Thursday, when shortly before 5 p. m., news of pop star Michael Jackson's serious health issue and possible death began to surface.
The news of Jackson's death, according to a story by Associated Press entertainment writer Jake Coyle, "spread like wildfire across news sites, social media networks and Twitter."
In The Enterprise newsroom, we wanted confirmation before we made a move. The celebrity media site TMZ.combroke the news of Jackson's death. According to the AP story, it was 5:30 p. m. Eastern time, 4:30 p. m., local time. BeaumontEnterprise.comreported TMZ's posting at 4:43 p. m., but we didn't have quite enough confidence in their reporting to say it was true -- only that TMZ was reporting it.
When the Los Angeles Times, and then The Associated Press confirmed the news, we posted that on BeaumontEnterprise.comas well and sent an e-mail alert to our news alert subscribers at 5:33 p. m.
It was an interesting afternoon in the newsroom as reporters and editors combined old-fashioned reporting and news sense with new technologies to make sure we got the news to all our readers as quick as possible.
*
Speaking of new technologies, readers who want to use their cell phones or other mobile devices to keep up with current news now have a better means to do that.
BeaumontEnterprise. mobi is a new version of our Web site specifically for our mobile readers. It features an iPhone enhanced version as well. The new version is designed to easily load and display on mobile devices.
Within the next few weeks, that service will include mobile news alerts as well, so we'll be able to tell readers about up-to-the-minute news such as Jackson's death -- or simply provide them with traffic alerts on their way home from work in rush-hour traffic.
Headed off for summer vacation but want to keep up with the news while you are gone? The site also is perfect for that.
*
If you're a reader who prefers the print product to online or mobile news, we're set to help you enjoy your vacation as well.
Rather than depend on a neighbor to pick up your daily newspaper or leave those newspapers in the driveway to signal your absence, you can call to request that your subscription be put on vacation while you're out of town.
Simply call our customer service department at (409) 838-2818 and make the request. Tell them when you want your paper to stop and restart for your vacation.
You probably will be less likely to encounter a busy signal or be put on hold if you call between 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. weekdays, or before noon on weekends. At least one full day's notice is preferred.
When you put your newspaper on vacation hold, you have several options.
If you're a dyed-in-the-wool newspaper fan and want to read every single back issue, you can ask for a vacation pack to be delivered when you return. It will include all the issues you missed.
If you're feeling charitable, you can ask that your newspapers be donated to the Newspapers in Education program.
If you're a realist and don't think you'll have time to catch up on that much reading but don't want to donate, you can simply ask that you receive credit for the papers, which will extend your subscription by the number of days that we hold delivery.
If Enterprise carriers deliver other products to your home, and you want them held for your vacation, you need to contact those publications individually.
Those numbers are: for the Houston Chronicle, (713) 362-7211; for the Wall Street Journal or Barron's, (800) 568- 7625; USA Today, (800) 872- 0001; or New York Times, (800) 698-4637). Have a great time, wherever you go and whatever you do. We'll be here when you get back.
Then there are days like last Thursday, when shortly before 5 p. m., news of pop star Michael Jackson's serious health issue and possible death began to surface.
The news of Jackson's death, according to a story by Associated Press entertainment writer Jake Coyle, "spread like wildfire across news sites, social media networks and Twitter."
In The Enterprise newsroom, we wanted confirmation before we made a move. The celebrity media site TMZ.combroke the news of Jackson's death. According to the AP story, it was 5:30 p. m. Eastern time, 4:30 p. m., local time. BeaumontEnterprise.comreported TMZ's posting at 4:43 p. m., but we didn't have quite enough confidence in their reporting to say it was true -- only that TMZ was reporting it.
When the Los Angeles Times, and then The Associated Press confirmed the news, we posted that on BeaumontEnterprise.comas well and sent an e-mail alert to our news alert subscribers at 5:33 p. m.
It was an interesting afternoon in the newsroom as reporters and editors combined old-fashioned reporting and news sense with new technologies to make sure we got the news to all our readers as quick as possible.
*
Speaking of new technologies, readers who want to use their cell phones or other mobile devices to keep up with current news now have a better means to do that.
BeaumontEnterprise. mobi is a new version of our Web site specifically for our mobile readers. It features an iPhone enhanced version as well. The new version is designed to easily load and display on mobile devices.
Within the next few weeks, that service will include mobile news alerts as well, so we'll be able to tell readers about up-to-the-minute news such as Jackson's death -- or simply provide them with traffic alerts on their way home from work in rush-hour traffic.
Headed off for summer vacation but want to keep up with the news while you are gone? The site also is perfect for that.
*
If you're a reader who prefers the print product to online or mobile news, we're set to help you enjoy your vacation as well.
Rather than depend on a neighbor to pick up your daily newspaper or leave those newspapers in the driveway to signal your absence, you can call to request that your subscription be put on vacation while you're out of town.
Simply call our customer service department at (409) 838-2818 and make the request. Tell them when you want your paper to stop and restart for your vacation.
You probably will be less likely to encounter a busy signal or be put on hold if you call between 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. weekdays, or before noon on weekends. At least one full day's notice is preferred.
When you put your newspaper on vacation hold, you have several options.
If you're a dyed-in-the-wool newspaper fan and want to read every single back issue, you can ask for a vacation pack to be delivered when you return. It will include all the issues you missed.
If you're feeling charitable, you can ask that your newspapers be donated to the Newspapers in Education program.
If you're a realist and don't think you'll have time to catch up on that much reading but don't want to donate, you can simply ask that you receive credit for the papers, which will extend your subscription by the number of days that we hold delivery.
If Enterprise carriers deliver other products to your home, and you want them held for your vacation, you need to contact those publications individually.
Those numbers are: for the Houston Chronicle, (713) 362-7211; for the Wall Street Journal or Barron's, (800) 568- 7625; USA Today, (800) 872- 0001; or New York Times, (800) 698-4637). Have a great time, wherever you go and whatever you do. We'll be here when you get back.
posted by Sheila Friedeck at 3:28 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home