I have used this presentation as part of the training we do when redesigning newspapers.

1. READERSHIP THE IMPERATIVES BEST IDEAS FOR YOUR NEWSROOM

2. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES Decline of readership

3. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES But why the decline?

4. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES We’re boring!

9. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT How do you involve readers in your paper?

10. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT

11. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT

15. Instead of just running a local brief about this community bake sale, this newspaper got involved in the action.

16. Don’t just tell readers about upcoming games, help them get into the game.

17. Readers love old photos. But be specific. This newspaper wants photos of music memories. Build galleries online.

18. We love animals. This newspaper offers a contest when readers can submit photos of their favorite pet.

19. Ask readers to submit photos of their vacation trips, homecoming dances, proms, Christmas parties, etc.

21. Encourage readers to take your paper with them on vacation and have them take photos. If you can, give the person who went the farthest every month a prize.

22. • Bringing readers into your budget meetings • Readers go above the fold • Meeting the average folks

23. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT Like to win stuff? Every holiday or special event should be a signal to involve readers. Keep in mind major pop culture moments, such as the ending to the hit show the “Sopranos.” Find advertising support with each contest.

24. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT This newspaper asked readers what they were thankful for and filled their entire Thanksgiving edition with those good stories and photos.

25. Every week this paper takes a photo of something and readers are asked to call in and guess what it is.

26. If you’re spotted in the crowd and stop by the local bowling alley with the paper in hand, you win a prize.

27. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT

34. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READER INVOLVEMENT Hannibal, Mo., tells readers how many local stories they produced every month.

35. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES Let’s navigate

41. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW What you need to know

42. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW

47. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW

48. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW This newspaper posed 10 of the more than 100 new questions on the immigration test to readers, along with a breakout on how locals did when posed some of the questions.

49. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW

50. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW

51. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW Notebooks are a great way for beat reporters to get in those items that don’t fit into stories

52. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW Great way to present census figures information.

53. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | READERS IN THE KNOW Seeking a feature that allows readers to submit questions. Also could be used as a way to provide readers real quick updates.

54. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

57. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

58. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

59. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

61. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

62. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

63. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | EASY TO NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND

64. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PROMOTING CONTENT Tell readers it’s coming Be as specific as possible in promotions. Items don’t have to be huge investigative pieces. Simple features readers like work, like honor rolls.

65. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS Readers want: People stories

66. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

67. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

68. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

69. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

70. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

71. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

72. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | PEOPLE CONTENT, OBITS, ANNOUNCEMENTS Other submitted content ideas: • Outdoors what I caught, killed • Page of youth sports title photos • Page of club photos, club notes • What I did over my summer vacation • Fourth of July cookouts

73. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | FEATURES CONTENT Readers want: Lifestyle

74. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | FEATURES CONTENT

75. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | FEATURES CONTENT

76. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | FEATURES CONTENT

77. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | GO & DO IT INFORMATION Readers want: Go & Do It If you can’t come up with five best bets for the area, consider picking an editor’s pick event of the day.

78. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | POLICE Readers want: Crime news Other police ideas: • Crime notebook • Best of the blotter this week • Heard on the scanner

79. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | SPORTS Readers want: Sports

80. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | SPORTS

81. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | SPORTS

82. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | SPORTS Consider a rotation of features for your sports section — rec feature, volleyball feature of the week, etc.

83. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | SPORTS

84. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | SPORTS

85. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS More good ideas

86. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS This newspaper ran a series over 40 days during the summer on 40 things the town was known for.

87. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS The “Got Grit” series looked at places with rough reputations, then showed what they are really like.

88. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS This project broke down key information about every school, including names of new teachers, new programs and changes to policy.

89. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS

90. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS

91. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS

92. READERSHIP: THE IMPERATIVES | IDEAS More ideas: www.apme.com www.readership.org www.ghnewsroom.com