Eyeballs keep print media alive
Shannon Siders
Issue date: 3/17/10 Section: News
By Shannon Siders
"If newspapers are dying, what's with all the eyeballs?" questioned Peter Baniak, editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader, to a group of college journalism students at the annual Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association conference on Friday evening. The event, held at Transylvania University, attracted over 100 college students and advisers involved with campus newspapers throughout the state.
Referencing the increasing importance of social media, Baniak centered his speech on the "Top 10 Tweets About Journalism Today." He compared Twitter to "information Red Bull," citing the timing and availability of news. Baniak's own Twitter account says that he is a "Lexington resident, Dad of 3, editor of the Herald-Leader, Cubs fan, cake baker."
Most of Baniak's Tweets throughout his speech focused on providing inspiration for aspiring student journalists and providing hope that the newspaper industry is still very much alive and well.
"There is an enormous competition for eyeballs these days," said Baniak on the struggle for readership. He went on to say that the Lexington Herald-Leader has experienced enormous gains in online readership, even though print readership has declined.
The Internet has allowed regional newspapers such as the Lexington Herald-Leader to reach a whole new audience, sometimes one that is international. Toyota President Akio Toyoda visited Lexington on Friday to offer support to employees at one of the biggest branches of the suffering company. The story featured on the Lexington Herald-Leader's website reached an international audience because of the importance and interest in the story. In fact, a Google search of "Toyota President" on Friday night delivered the story as a result at the very top of the page.
Baniak reached out to college graduates to instill hope for the future of journalism. College graduates today, especially at the undergraduate level, are experiencing greater hardships than ever before in the job market. With rumors flying that print journalism as we know it will soon be extinct, many student journalists are fearful for what awaits them after graduation.
"If newspapers are dying, what's with all the eyeballs?" questioned Peter Baniak, editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader, to a group of college journalism students at the annual Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association conference on Friday evening. The event, held at Transylvania University, attracted over 100 college students and advisers involved with campus newspapers throughout the state.
Referencing the increasing importance of social media, Baniak centered his speech on the "Top 10 Tweets About Journalism Today." He compared Twitter to "information Red Bull," citing the timing and availability of news. Baniak's own Twitter account says that he is a "Lexington resident, Dad of 3, editor of the Herald-Leader, Cubs fan, cake baker."
Most of Baniak's Tweets throughout his speech focused on providing inspiration for aspiring student journalists and providing hope that the newspaper industry is still very much alive and well.
"There is an enormous competition for eyeballs these days," said Baniak on the struggle for readership. He went on to say that the Lexington Herald-Leader has experienced enormous gains in online readership, even though print readership has declined.
The Internet has allowed regional newspapers such as the Lexington Herald-Leader to reach a whole new audience, sometimes one that is international. Toyota President Akio Toyoda visited Lexington on Friday to offer support to employees at one of the biggest branches of the suffering company. The story featured on the Lexington Herald-Leader's website reached an international audience because of the importance and interest in the story. In fact, a Google search of "Toyota President" on Friday night delivered the story as a result at the very top of the page.
Baniak reached out to college graduates to instill hope for the future of journalism. College graduates today, especially at the undergraduate level, are experiencing greater hardships than ever before in the job market. With rumors flying that print journalism as we know it will soon be extinct, many student journalists are fearful for what awaits them after graduation.
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