The short list

After a meeting 11-22-06, here's the list of new-media priorities that emerged. These are in no particular order unless indicated. Obviously this isn't final, and these won't all get done right away. But it gives everyone a starting point.

Video
1. Create a partnership with Northern Television Center where the Star takes at least a couple of their video packages per week and puts them on our Web site.
2. Video Catch of the Day – every day, potentially sponsored


News
3. The “backpack reporter” – a reporter with a video camera and voice recorder in and around campus
4. News ticker for breaking campus news
5. Box scores in the sports section
6. Audio slide shows – narrated photos from a story that’s been in the paper
7. Adding photo captions to online stories


Online-only content
8. Extensive dining guide, to launch in January 2007. Allow advertisements that link to their page. People that advertise can get their own advertisement on their restaurant page that has a picture slideshow effect of their food and restaurant. Menus/hours.
9. Movie listings
10. Section for local bands. Have spots where bands can place samples of music, profiles, playing dates … advertise NSRadio’s local lounge there.
11. Horoscopes.
12. Online-only columns. An advice column like “Ask Elle” in the Sun-Times
13. Trivial facts: historical, fun/odd facts about people and places
14. Review of useful Web sites for college students (just plain fun / distracting)
15. Some form of travel section (day trips at college student level): Maybe an “On the Road Reporter” – finding historical places / oddball sites in the area

Interactive
16. Professor/course discussion boards for students
17. Flashmobs, where we tell people to show up at some random place at a certain time and potentially win something good, like an iPod.

Blogs
18. Huskie sports blog – especially during football and basketball seasons. Hosted by a Star sports columnist.
19. TV show blogs for some of the most popular shows
20. Blogs available for section editors


Radio and podcasts
21. Weekly live coverage – and also podcasted via audio or video


Promotion, etc.
22. Promote ALL of our new media stuff on FaceBook and MySpace, as well as in the paper. Basically, promote it to where the desired audience already is.
23. Edgier ads for NS Swap. Like, “SELL YOUR CRAP”
24. E-mail headlines and ads to users.
25. By next August: Kill the Northern Star Online and replace it with a new product. A community site that includes news but emphasizes the community stuff just as much. Do a huge promotional campaign when it launches.