Online niche news sites help fill void in papers’ lessened reporting on health, science
‘There are about 100 (nonprofit news sites) nationally … six or seven focus exclusively on health-related reporting.’
— Lisa Chedekel, Co-founder and senior writer,
Connecticut Health Investigative Team (C-HIT)
With the decrease in print circulation of newspapers, there has been a noticeable change in the way much of our news is reported, according to representatives of two online niche publications that are part of that change.
Some of the change can be explained by an increase in singularly focused news sites, including two health-focused sites, known as STAT and C-HIT, said Lisa Chedekel, co-founder of C-HIT.
“I think there was a mutual recognition (in the news media) that health and science reporting was vastly under-covered,” said Gideon Gil, managing editor for enterprise and partnerships at STAT News.
STAT News is one of many new niche news sites that have become common in recent years. STAT was begun as an experiment by the owner of The Boston Globe, John Henry, Gil said.
“When John Henry purchased the Globe, he was interested in how he could make quality journalism financially stable in today’s climate,” Gil said.
Two sites Henry established were STAT and Crux, a site focused solely on the Roman Catholic Church. Crux was shuttered in March, just 18 months after it was launched, because it was unable to sustain its coverage through advertising revenue.
Gil said Henry recognized that a niche operation such as STAT must be “best in class” to be successful.
Part of STAT’s success comes from location, Gil said.
“It is our location that allows it; Boston is the hub (of health and science reporting). If Paris was the hub, STAT would not be as successful as it is,” Gil said.
STAT is not the only singularly focused news site founded in recent years.
Lisa Chedekel and Lynne DeLucia, both formerly of The Hartford (Conn.) Courant, launched the Connecticut Health Investigative Team, known as C-HIT.
Chedekel said the main purpose of C-HIT is to fill the void in health-related reporting in Connecticut that stemmed from cuts in newspaper and television newsrooms.
“We were acutely aware of some cuts …Veteran reporters were leaving their newspapers,” Chedekel said.
Over time, the health reporting staff of the Courant had decreased from six journalists to two.
C-HIT focuses mostly on investigative reporting on systemic health problems, with more limited coverage of the policy side of health-related reporting, Chedekel said. She said the goal of C-HIT is to act as a database of knowledge for consumers to find up-to-date information from regulatory agencies with ease and without bias.
C-HIT and STAT have been growing, Chedekel and Gil said about their sites. Both said they recognize that they are not alone in their work, but that their work is still important.
STAT’s multimedia team is now nine people, which is a quarter of its entire editorial team, Gil said.
“Most newspapers don’t have that (level of focus) on multimedia … It’s a large team,” Gil said.
Chedekel said C-HIT relies on a pool of about a dozen freelancers to produce its content, with DeLucia as the only full-time employee.
Like Chedekel, Gil noticed cuts being made to a team of health reporters at the Boston Globe before his departure. Gil took a leave of absence from the Globe, where he was a health and science editor, to complete a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
When it came to returning to journalism, Gil wanted something new. He joined STAT in June 2015 and has watched it grow and change during the past year. STAT has been growing both in size and scope of coverage, Gil said.
“There was a flurry of other sites (in the United States), expanding and adding (to their health and science) coverage … ,” Gil said.
Gil said STAT has been increasing its reach and audience by hiring reporters from around the United States. About 20 percent of STAT readers live abroad, he said.
To extend its reach, STAT shares content with the Boston Globe; many stories posted by STAT are also published in the Globe, and vice versa.
Every Wednesday, a reporter from STAT is featured on WBUR’s “Here and Now” radio program, broadcast on NPR.
Chedekel said C-HIT also uses content sharing to expand its reach.
Besides publishing content on the C-HIT website, “we supply content to 17 newspapers … Our stories reach 1.2 million readers on average,” Chedekel said. C-HIT is financed by a combination of content sales, which also extends the reach of C-HIT’s content, and national and local grant money, Chedekel said.
“We have no shortage of stories … The issue is making money,” Chedekel said.
Gil noted that STAT is one of several sites, such as C-HIT, that is focused solely on health-related reporting.
Chedekel said that she also realizes that C-HIT is not alone.
“There are about 100 (nonprofit news sites) nationally … Six or seven focus exclusively on health-related reporting.” Chedekel said.
Sites such as STAT and C-HIT have responded to cuts in health-related reporting.
But there is a question as to why cuts were made to that area of news coverage in the first place.
There are many possible factors, not the least of which is the overall decline in print circulation for newspapers, but Jerry Berger thinks that the cuts can be attributed to a shift in the focus of the news media.
Berger is a strategic communications professional and former director of media relations at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
There are two distinct categories of health-related reporting, Berger said.
“There is science and health reporting … and there is the business of health care.” Berger said.
Coverage has shifted toward the business of health care, likely because of the federal Affordable Care Act of 2013, more commonly known as Obamacare, Berger said.
By its nature, Obamacare changed the focus of health-related reporting. The introduction of Obamacare has led to an increase in coverage of the business of health care. The business of health care can now be adeptly covered by government, economy, and business reporters, as April Burbank has been assigned to do.
Burbank is a reporter for The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press and has been a journalist for just a few years. Burbank focuses primarily on state government and policy trends and through that lens covers a lot of health-related news as well.
“(Health care) isn’t my primary focus, but in covering state government and policy trends, I spend a decent amount of time on health care,” she said.
“A lot of (my coverage) has been policy-focused … absorbed by the Affordable Care Act and Vermont Health Connect,” she said.
Vermont Health Connect is an online health care portal for Vermont, similar to the online portals for Obamacare.
“Health care policy is such a complex topic to cover — now with the added level of controversy over Obamacare health exchanges like Vermont Health Connect — that it’s just difficult for reporters to find the time to write about actual medicine through stories on the ground,” Burbank said.
“Covering policy is essential to government accountability… but I wish there was more time for feature pieces and (personal narrative stories),” Burbank said.
Chedekel, Gil and Berger all discussed the decrease in reporters with a primary beat of health-related reporting while also noting the increase in stories on the policy of health care.
They said the outlook for health-related reporting is not as concerning as it once was. The overall decline in print circulation and cuts in the newsroom have been mitigated by single-focused news sites such as C-HIT and STAT, Gil said.
‘Health care policy is such a complex topic to cover — now with the added level of controversyover Obamacare health exchanges like Vermont Health Connect — that it’s just difficult for reporters to find the time to write about actual medicine through stories on the ground.’
–April Burbank, Reporter
Burlington (Vt.) Free Press
‘It is our location that allows it; Boston is the hub (of health and science reporting). If Paris was the hub, STAT would not be as successful as it is.’
–Gideon Gil, Managing editor for enterprise and partnerships
STAT News
‘We have no shortage of stories … The issue is making money.’
–Lisa Chedekel
‘There is science and health reporting … and there is the business of health care.’
–Jerry Berger, Strategic communications professional
The shadow knows
Ed Henninger, design
ED HENNINGER is an independent newspaper consultant and the director of Henninger Consulting.
Website: www.henningerconsulting.com
Phone: (803) 327-3322
WANT A FREE evaluation of your newspaper’s design?
Just contact Ed: edh@henningerconsulting.com | (803) 327-3322
IF THIS COLUMN has been helpful, you might be interested in Ed’s books: “Henninger on Design” and “101 Henninger Helpful Hints.” With the help of Ed’s books, you’ll immediately have a better idea how to design for your readers. Find out more about “Henninger on Design” and “101 Henninger Helpful Hints” by visiting Ed’s website: www.henningerconsulting.com
During the past few years — and only for certain clients – I’ve been suggesting that they get away from the traditional half-point frame for photos.
The option I recommend is a photo frame with a soft drop shadow.
Why?
A few reasons:
IT’S DIFFERENT: Not many other newspapers use this approach, so the new look makes you stand out, especially if you’re in a community where you’re competing against another paper. It’s certainly an idea to consider if you want to redesign.
IT’S APPEALING: Readers might not be able to articulate the difference, but the soft shadow tends to make your photos just a bit more friendly, more comfortable to look at
.
IT’S MORE ‘FEATURISH’: Some editors might think that the soft shadow takes away from the impact of a hard news photo, such as a fire or an auto accident (or the mug shot of a serial killer!). That’s OK. You can drop the soft shadow on such photos if you wish. But for most photos in community newspapers, a soft shadow frame will do just fine.
IT’S THREE-DIMENSIONAL: The soft shadow helps push the photo off the surface of the page, giving the photo a bit more impact. The half-point frame doesn’t do that.
Here’s a suggestion: Try the drop shadow look on an upcoming photo page or in a special section. See how it looks to you. Does it give you a feel you’d like to see throughout your entire publication? If so, you know what to do.
And another suggestion: Don’t use the InDesign default specifications for the shadow. Those specs create a shadow that’s too dark, too big.
Here are the specs for the shadow on the photo at right above:
Blending mode: Multiply
Opacity: 50%
Distance: Ignore. Offsets will create distance.
X Offset: 0p3
Y Offset: 0p3
Angle: 135º
Size: 0p5
Disregard other options.
One last detail: If you’re placing a photo with a soft shadow at the right edge of the page, be sure to nudge it left about a pica. Otherwise, the shadow might fall out of the print area, leaving you with no shadow at all.
The soft shadow photo frame can give your newspaper a more comfortable, more friendly design. It’s worth a look.
Scott Kearnan
Scott Kearnan became the Boston Herald’s food editor as of June 22. Before joining the Herald, Kearnan was the Boston editor of Zagat.com, an online resource for restaurants. He is also an East Coast contributor for HotelChatter.com, a Condé Nast Traveler publication, and lifestyle editor for the LGBT magazine Boston Spirit. His stories appear regularly in publications, including Boston.com, the Boston Metro newspaper, The Improper Bostonian, Ocean Home magazine of Andover, Mass., and Boston Common magazine. He is regularly on Newton-based television news station NECN’s “The Take,” discussing the latest pop culture headlines.
The Transitions were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin correspondent Nimra Aziz, an undergraduate student in the Northeastern University School of Journalism.
The power of implication
John Foust, advertising
John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training.
Email for information: john@johnfoust.com
Randall oversees the advertising department of a midsize newspaper.
“Implication is one of the most important concepts in selling,” he told me. “It’s covered in a lot of sales seminars and books, but I’m surprised that so many salespeople don’t realize how it can drive marketing decisions.”
What is implication? It’s a simple concept that explores how A impacts B and how B impacts C. There is a strong emphasis on the future. Let’s say one of your tires has low air pressure. Whether you choose to ignore it or do something about it, there are long-term implications. If you ignore it, you could end up with an even bigger problem, a flat tire. If you decide to take action, the implication is that your car will be safer and you’ll get improved gas mileage.
College football coaching legend Lou Holtz once said: “Things never stay the same. They either get better or they get worse.”
In other words, one thing leads to another.
“A lot of ad departments have tunnel vision,” Randall said. “They tell their prospects, ‘Here’s what my paper can do for your business right now.’ That approach might produce a sale, but it doesn’t drill down to what the prospect really wants – long-range stability and success. I encourage our sales team to take prospects down a different road. It’s all a matter of asking the right questions.”
Here’s how implication questions can redirect a prospect’s thinking:
Advertiser: I don’t need to change my advertising.
Salesperson: How long has your current campaign been running?
Advertiser: About two years.
Salesperson: Are the ads working as well as they did in the beginning?
Advertiser: Actually they’re not. We’re getting fewer ad responses than we did then.
Salesperson: What do you think will happen to your sales numbers if you keep running the same ads? (Implication question.)
Result: The client realizes that business could continue to slide if there’s not a change in the advertising. That could have a negative impact on his plans to expand the business. He agrees to consider some new marketing ideas.
Here’s another example:
Advertiser: My new ad campaign is working pretty well.
Salesperson: That’s great news. It shows that you’re targeting the right audience with the right message.
Advertiser: Right.
Salesperson: Let’s think for a moment about what could happen if your business increased even more. What kinds of things could you do? (Implication question.)
Advertiser: In the long run, I could add to the staff and maybe even upgrade the showroom.
Salesperson: Why don’t we take advantage of the positive momentum you’ve built? Right now, you’re running a quarter-page ad every week. Let’s move that up to a half-page, which will give you even more visibility.
Result: The advertiser sees the benefits and agrees to increase her advertising investment.
“Ideally, a sales conversation will include a progression of implication questions. Each one can lead you closer to a sale,” Randall said.
(c) Copyright 2016 by John Foust. All rights reserved.
Not news to this columnist: Community papers doing well
Kevin Slimp, technology
Kevin Slimp is director of the Institute of Newspaper Technology.
Email questions to him at
kevin@kevinslimp.com
A few months back, I had breakfast with the publisher of a very successful community newspaper in Minnesota. As we walked around the restaurant, I was introduced to local residents enjoying their muffins and eggs. At one table, a customer asked what I was doing in their city.
When I explained I was working with the local newspaper, a gentleman spoke up: “Whatever you do, don’t mess it up. We love our newspaper.”
A few weeks later, while in town working with a community newspaper in South Florida, I found myself in a conversation with the president of the local real estate association. When the conversation turned to my client, he was quick to share some personal thoughts.
“Do you know why Realtors, auto dealers and other advertisers advertise in the community paper instead of the big daily?” he asked.
He had my attention.
“People who live here pick up this paper, see the faces of the writers and say, ‘I know him,’ or ‘I know her.’ It makes a real difference. That’s why people love this newspaper, and that’s why advertisers want their ads in this paper.”
Last week, as I arrived at the rental house where I would be living for three days, the owner asked me what brought me to her town. When I told her I was there to work with the local newspaper, a smile hinted at what she was about to say: “We love our paper here. The same family has owned the paper for decades. We are so lucky to have it.”
Three days ago, as I sat alone at the Lakewood Supper Club, looking out over a beautiful sunset on Big Stone Lake, which creates the border between South Dakota and Minnesota, the waitress quickly recognized my Southern accent.
“What brings you all the way from Tennessee?” she asked.
When I explained that I was in town to work with the local newspaper for two days, I had a new friend.
“We are so lucky to have our paper,” Michelle told me. “We love our paper.”
I feel like a broken record when I remind people just how well community newspapers are doing across America. As I work with hundreds of papers each year, it’s a common theme as publishers talk to me about their individual operations.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw a story in Editor & Publisher in early June titled, “Despite ‘Doom and Gloom,’ Community Newspapers are Growing Stronger.”
I chuckled because I was reminded of the interview I did with Editor & Publisher just about a year ago for a column titled “Strategic Innovations Overshadow the Technical,” by Eric Schult.
Eric contacted me to discuss the role of technology and centralization at newspapers. It didn’t take long for the conversation to shift to the success community newspapers are having without centralizing production. Eric seemed surprised when I shared some of my research information indicating that locally-owned newspapers are doing quite well. At one point, I mentioned that the success of community newspapers might be an important topic for a story. As I remember, Eric agreed.
Editor & Publisher isn’t the only industry journal to take up this mantra. It seems that community papers are “in” again. The column you are reading is carried by industry-related journals and publications on four continents. I often take the opportunity to read what other “experts” are writing in those publications. For years I’ve read how newspapers must shift their focus away from creating quality products to crunching numbers. Now, it seems, quality is important again.
One of the things I tell clients, whether they are locally-owned community papers or part of larger groups, is to be realistic about what they do. More times than not, newspapers ask me to help improve their products while on site. That always means that something is going to change. I’m noticing newspapers are more accepting of change these days when confronted with reasonable information.
I had a discussion recently with a staff in South Dakota that sounded like a conversation I’ve had many times. It revolved around grayscale photos on pages. Now and then, I’ll work with a group that uses color pictures on grayscale pages, to simplify the conversion of documents from print to online. By placing color photos on the pages, the RIP (the device that controls the creation of plates for the press) can simply convert the images to gray while making the plates, allowing the same files to be uploaded to a website in full color.
Although that does simplify the process of converting print pages for the Internet, the issue – as I’ve explained dozens of times to groups – is that the photos will look much better in print when edited and converted to grayscale first.
I know what always follows next: “Yes, but if we place color pictures on the pages, we don’t have to create new pages to go online.”
That’s when I get straight to the point.
“Let me ask you something,” I usually begin. “Do you make more money off your digital product or your print product?”
To date, no one has ever answered that they make more money from the digital product. Most often, the answer is, “We don’t make a profit from our digital newspaper.”
“So, why do you put more effort in making your digital pages look good when all of your profit is in print?” I’ll ask.
At that point, I usually see faces begin to light up.
In her story for Editor & Publisher, Sharon Knolle is right: Despite the gloom and doom, community papers are growing stronger. I would argue, however, that that is not a new phenomenon. Most gloom and doom I’ve noticed among community newspapers the past few years has been perceived, not real. It took four or five years, but most community papers I visit – and I visit a lot – realize that the “death of newspapers” cry was created primarily by folks who could profit if that turned out to be the case. The reality, as Knolle noted, is that community newspapers are growing stronger.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be traveling in Tennessee, Western Canada, West Virginia and back to the Upper Midwest. I will visit with staffs and hear how much their readers love their papers. Publishers will seek advice about software and hardware purchases because, among other things, they realize that they have to plan for the future.
In 2008, the dean of a prestigious university school of journalism told me that he didn’t think that there would be a single printed newspaper left in America within 10 years. He still has 17 months to prove me wrong. If the folks at Editor & Publisher are right, it seems a safe bet that at least one newspaper will be standing.
Francis A. Montecalvo
Francis A. Montecalvo, 78, of The Villages, Fla., and formerly of Middleton, Mass., died June 15 in Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Mass.
Montecalvo was a pressman for more than 50 years with The Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and The Salem (Mass.) News. He was a member of the Boston Newspaper Printing Pressman Union No. 3.
He leaves his wife, Marion; a son, Paul; a daughter, Deborah; five grandchildren; a brother; a sister.
The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin correspondent Nimra Aziz, an undergraduate student in the Northeastern University School of Journalism.