No, I’m not stuttering. Hyperlocal just arrived here, right here.
Several posts in this space have discussed the notion of hyperlocal journalism as practiced by Rob Curley and his Naples-based “Nerdery.” Around the time of the Fast Company article on Curley’s efforts, the Nerdery experienced a sort of diaspora. Curley and his partner in crime, Deryck Hodge, left Naples Daily News to join the Washington Post.
Most recently, another Nerdery notable, Jim Alred, has left the Naples nest for Rome, Ga., and the Rome News-Tribune. He has been hired to bring hyperlocal interactive to the Rome newspaper’s Web site. His first project: deep, rich media coverage of the Rome N-T Holiday Festival basketball tournament, a 10-team basketball buffet that a broad swath of this community will attend. It’s the perfect hyperlocal event from which to build.
Alred plans streamed video, podcasts, photo galleries and online presentations of the coverage all the print folks normally do. Deep drill-downs. Ten teams with approximately 10 players each, their coaches, friends, families. No local TV channel in existence. Yes, the RN-T will make hay with this.
Now if only the print version of the paper could write just one non-rule-breaking AP style headline!
December 19, 2006 at 2:25 am
Very interested in RN-t’s plans to make this content more appealing. Recently shooting for rn-t I spent a good deal of effort and time into the photos, only to find the gallery smaller than anyone in their right mind would make one.
I hope Jim spruces up this and also that this was a one time only slip up.
Now just we need them to propose the student media participate in this too. I’d like a job doing that sort of thing.
December 19, 2006 at 11:07 am
I hope so, too. He JUST arrived, so I’m sure he’s not even sure what he has to work with yet. My big question is related: Will RN-T adequately fund new media. They’ve poured so much into a new press and offices. Is there enough left to enable Alred’s Nerdery to add compelling rich media?
And, yes, you’re right about student media. Between BC, Shorter and Ga. Highlands, there is quite a bit of student talent available, in students who are much more likely to be familiar with the tools and the culture of online that journos long in the tooth.