Tag: news

As year’s end nears, a different look at our clicks and views

It’s perhaps only fitting in the world of purely pageviews – and Web pageviews at that — that not a single news article makes the top 20, 30, 40 or even 50 in the most-popular list for KTVZ.COM in 2013, courtesy of Google Analytics.

That is a list from the “old-fashioned” dub-dub-W computer-visited Website, which once was the center of the online universe but now shares equal and, in the future, diminishing billing with that increasingly popular computer in your pocket or purse — the smartphone and the tablet, the portable news viewers of the 21st Century. Each platform has its own peculiarities and statistics, and sure we can combine them all.

But for old time’s sake, let’s focus on the Website for a bit of statistical observation.

The home page makes up 10 million of the 25 million page views this year — and that’s only fitting, because while we want you to click through to all that great content, we also went you to know we’re the place to turn to see what’s new — and the front page, of course, is and always will be the place to start. Top Stories, latest Local Alert Weather Webcast and all that.

The Local Alert Weather page is the single most-visited page beyond that, at 1.3 million page views, and the local news page is behind that at 563,000 page views.

Our sports page is not too far behind, No. 5, at 135,000 page views — so there! And the seven-day forecast is sixth, at 131,000 page views. Our Fox Central Oregon page makes the top 10, in No. 9 slot at 112,000 page views.

Slide shows or photo albums — I use the same interchangeably, probably confusing to some, sorry — make up an astounding number of our top-viewed/clicked on pages — logically, as most have dozens of gorgeous views or fun parades, etc, and each click counts..

But for better or worse, in parlor game or … whatever, the top-viewed slide show, by far, is not all those pretty, scenic pictures, but the Deschutes County Parole and Probation “most wanted” list — well, lists, as each update is a separate item — and all told, they take up nine of the top 20 slots!

And then there’s the funny Nos. 12 and 20 — the “page not found” pages — close to 120,000 of the page views end up at a dead end, frightfully sorry (if I’m sounding British, blame the Christmas “Doctor Who” special) — and just behind at 21 is our Fire Alert page. Our Events page also makes the top 25, in No. 24 slot at 47,000 page views.

Crook and Jefferson counties’ most wanted lists also are in the top 30, as are the national news page (No. 29) and some of our seasonal photo albums, plus the ones dedicated to wildfires and wildlife.

Our Pump Patrol page is in the mix at No. 42, our videos page at No. 49, and you have to go No. 51 to find the very first actual news article in the ol’ (non-mobile) Web list, which is…

Ah, but that would be telling! We’ll be talking about top stories of the year in coming days, and while editorial judgment is on equal par with the clicks, there are some interesting things to share on what drew that particular finger-twitch on the mouse or trackpad.

(Update: Oh wait! That was by Page Title — my goodness, not a spreadsheet or database jockey am I, and by actual page the list is quite different! Several news stories in the top group, and we’ll be laying out the year in review soon.)

Merry Christmas! And Happy 2014 to come!

Riding the tide of the daily news (and helping others float their boat)

I often tell people I ride the tide of the daily news.

And that means I often have less than full control over where the day takes me — because you can never know exactly what’s going to come into the e-mail box, pop up on the police scanner or just… happen. (Like an ER doctor, but thankfully with a lot less blood and … stuff;-)

Some days that look to be busy as heck fizzle. Some quiet days blow up fast.

Ever since second grade and the mimeoed (remember mimeograph machines? How about ditto machines?) Room 210 Tooter, I’ve loved telling folks what’s going on.

Part and parcel of how we hear about stuff is the lowly (hey, they get little respect but are vital) news release (which of course is usually e-mailed but — we still get the occasional fax. Fax machines – long gone, so they are turned into Adobe PDFs auto-magically;-)

Ask just about any Central Oregon police officer or fire official, and odds are after we get such a release, I’ll be one of, if not the first calling or e-mailing to fill in holes, ask a follow-up question or find out something more specific than say, “vehicle.” (Bleh.)

My list of Press Release Pet Peeves has been so longstanding, there’s probably a version buried in the (ahem) bowels of this very blog.

Things like — don’t say what year something is going to happen, even near the end or beginning of the year — that’s so obvious in the vast majority of cases. But please DO put in what day of the WEEK it will be – that helps folks know whether they can attend your event or not. Don’t make them look it up on a calendar.

Titles are only capitalized immediately BEFORE a name, not after. Stuff like that. (Give up the two spaces between sentences — or heaven forbid, double-spacing the lines — those kinds of things died with the typewriter and grizzled newspaper copy editors with red pencils. And know your its and it’ses. And try not to let your organization develop it’s own quirky style, like capping the “City” of Bend (it’s not the only city!) or having to cap “County” every time in a release. Why? And ease back on the Acronyming of America (A of A). (Oh, and “Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley?” There are 2 senators from Oregon. Or is that a dig at your fellow Democrat?;-)

Oh, and PR folks: I know you want to make personal relationships happen, but if you send something only to one person in a 20-person newsroom, it WILL be the day they are off – or worse yet are the ancient un-updated media lists that send to people and places long gone — in some cases, dearly departed, even. That’s really worth the time and investment. Better to use the generic e-mail address, like stories@ktvz.com for our newsroom. Several people check that and will route it properly.

I’ve thought many times about a sideline business of helping folks get the basic style and grammar hurdles out of their releases, so folks can focus on the content.

But when you ride the tide of the daily news, it’s pretty much all-consuming, just to stay in the boat, not have it flip and keep it pointed downstream, ready for whatever rapids, swirls and eddies lie ahead.

And don’t forget that life jacket!

Being an assignment editor is… challenging

And thanks to a Facebook friend, I’ve found a lady in Denver, Colorado, Misty J., who writes a wonderful, fascinating blog about what the joys and tears and challenges of what this job is like – as well about Twitter, which KTVZ now has a feed on (we also have a new Facebook page! Come check us out;-)
http://assignmenteditorminds.blogspot.com/ is it, and if you’re all curious about what we face on the phones, in the newsroom etc., I highly recommend it.
I plan to be a regular commenter there. It might even inspire more blogging by yours truly.