One of the many challenges we face in the news industry today is understanding the new ways people get news. We’re hampered in that because most of us still get our news from the daily paper or by navigating to Web sites. The "old ways."
Too many journalists (including this one) have been slow to learn how to use newer tools to get news. Our readers — and former readers — aren’t so slow to embrace newer, more convenient technology. In many cases, it’s new to us in the newsroom but not new to the larger population.
I’m first in line to say "guilty." Way, way guilty. I finally understand RSS feeds much better thanks to this piece I read last year by Jon Dube, and I now subscribe to four or five RSS feeds. I use my cell phone regularly to get news.
The bottom line is that we have to adapt urgently to readers’ news habits, and we’re doing that too slowly. I wish I had good research data on how our local readers get news electronically. Drop me a note at editorsdesk@wichitaeagle.com or post a comment here and let me know where you pick up news through the day, and how.
– Sherry