News Cube fliers.

qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 1

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

GATEHOUSE NEWSROOM TRAINING

NEWS CUBE
More local faces, more local content submitted by readers & more new story formats

MORE NAMES & FACES: Of course readers want the news: What’s up with taxes? When

1 will the new school open? Is my water safe to drink? But the more names and faces on
your pages, the more your publication will truly have the feel of the community you cover.

MORE LOCAL CONTENT SUBMITTED BY READERS: Community members can pro-

2 vide even more content – more local names and faces – by e-mail if we reach out to
them and provide clear direction and instructions. Business owners, schools, non-prof-
its and other community organizations can be tapped to provide a steady stream of
news and event information plus simple profiles and photos of their members.

MORE LOCAL READER-FRIENDLY FORMATS: Much of the information you draw

3 from community groups and individuals can be packaged in graphic, easily digestible
Alternative Story Formats. These formats should find homes in your publications –
readers want them in the mix, they look great, and they can save you time.

Three places to make it happen in your newspapers

THE FRONT PAGE: Use Alternative PAGE A3: Each week, run a reader- OPINION PAGE: Solicit reader content.
Story Formats as the centerpiece or a submitted ASF featuring a member of Set up an E-board, as a Kids question of
low-art package. Solicit reader content the community – volunteers, students, the week and tell readers five things you
– photos and copy. teachers, professionals, town. want to see happen next week.

GOOD EATS TAUNTON

BAKERY

m
Tom Mikula, senior water plant
operator, shows water samples.
which provides water to homes The plant is operated by Taunton
in Taunton, Berkley and Dighton. Public Utilities,
JOHN SHISHMANIAN/TAUNTON
GAZETTE

Taunton Bakery takes the cake

Taunton By JOHN C. PENNEY
Canandaigua Community
Bakery jcpenney@TauntonGazette.com
School Board. Fuller says Thee questions i
(555) 123-4567
her 34 years as a teacher o
What do you enjoy about
Location 1355 W.
Chicago Ave., Today we sit down with
will help her lead the dis-
trict in the years ahead.
1 your work?
Connecticut’s water quality
w
Taunton Bonnie Fuller, a longtime
Hours Mon-Sun
Today we sit down with meets, and in some ways
teacher who last year was Bonnie Fuller, a longtime exceeds, national drinking
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. elected president of the water standards, according
teacher who last year was
Years in busi- Canandaigua Community What do you enjoy about
ness 76 School Board. Fuller says
her 34 years as a teacher
elected president of the
Canandaigua Community 2 your work?
Connecticut’s water quality
Specialty Per- School Board. Fuller says
simmon apple will help her lead the dis- meets, and in some ways
her 34 years as a teacher exceeds, national drinking
tarts trict in the years ahead. will help her lead the dis- What do you enjoy about
Philosophy on
food “Whatever
Today we sit down with
Bonnie Fuller, a longtime
trict in the years ahead.
Today we sit down with
3 your work?
Connecticut’s water quality Fa
makes you say teacher who last year was le
‘yum’” Bonnie Fuller, a longtime meets, and in some ways
elected president of the teacher who last. exceeds, national drinking S
exceeds, national drinking on
Ta
KH

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com

News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 2

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

NEWS CUBE TRAINING: THE FRONT PAGE

More local

NEW STORY
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new

FORMATS
WHAT: A story broken into its essential elements
story for-
mats

and presented to readers in an organized and

easily digestible graphic package.

WHY: Readers now want their stories in a variety

of formats. The narrative news story is still the
primary form, but ASFs must be in the mix for
their graphic presentation, multiple entry points
and quick reading. Think of how many opportuni-
ties in daily life potential readers are presented
with information. How can your work stand out?
An ASF is a great way to jump out and pull in the
reader.

WHEN: Almost any topic can be presented in an

ASF. Q&As and Profiles are favorites, but newspa-
pers are increasingly using ASFs for breaking
news and updates. With a piece of art and three
breakouts, in many cases you can provide read-
ers all they need – and want – to know. In CNC
West, there are several templates in place for you
to choose from, and all are Quark-based and
adaptable to your content.

HOW: In most cases, it is important to know be-

fore you start reporting that the content will be
presented in an ASF. Study the format, decide ex-
actly what information is needed, what questions
need to be asked, what art is required. This is cru-
cial to saving time. Package the content with the
appropriate headings and work with pagination in
the production.

ABOVE: An example of how the follow-up format

>>

can work successfully even for a hard news event.

>
LEFT: A simple question and answer interview with
a local school teacher on a host of topics from her
background and what she loves about teaching.

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com

News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09
gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E
NEWS CUBE TRAINING: THE FRONT PAGE
INVOLVING
READERS
WHAT: Seek ways to ask readers to share photos,
stories, and memories through the year on a host
of holidays and special events.
WHY: Readers love to get involved with local
newspapers and asking them to share moments
that are important to them makes them have
ownership of the product. Also, it’s a great — and
easy and quick — way to get local names and
faces in print.
WHEN: Any holiday, big life-changing event or
special community event is perfect for reader in-
volvement projects. Examples include:
> Asking readers to write in for Valentine’s Day
about how they fell in love with their partner.
> Seeking photographs of a child’s Easter egg
hunt or photos of kids dressed in their Sunday
best.
> Seeking photographs of prom moments
HOW: Using the promotion featured below (of-
fered in a six column and two column format) ask
readers to get involved, by submitting photos or
writing in. Run the promotion on your front page
and run it for a few weeks, if you can. Also, be sure
to run it on your web site and keep it ranked there
for several days. Do your best to run as many of
the photographs as you can in print. And create a
gallery of the photos on your web site.
WE WANT YOUR »
EASTERPHOTOS
There’s so much for kids — and parents for that matter — to love about Easter, from Easter egg hunts, photos with the Easter bunny, and dressing
up for church. Your local newspaper wants to showcase your special Easter moments. Send us your photos and be sure to include who is pictured.
QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com
3:47 PM Page 3
K>:=>KL
LA:K>
MA>BK
EHO>
LMHKB>L
We asked readers to share their Valentine’s Day memories
Lizzie Bell and Brad Bradford
Common coffeeshop
sparks love for two
McLOUD — It’s been 25 years
since a 15-year-old McLoud girl
was found badly beaten and shot
to death, but her mother, Jose-
phine Harrison, still clings to the
hope that one day the homicide
will be solved and she’ll know
why her daughter was killed.
Lucille Maxine Harrison
disappeared from her home in
McLoud Oct. 3, 1982.
A farmer checking his wheat
¿HOGQHDU86DQG(:
discovered her body about 9 a.m.
Oct. 5, 1982.
Who killed her and why re-
mains a mystery.
(YHU\RQHFDOOHGWKHWHHQE\KHU
middle name, Maxine. She was a
tall girl — 5 feet, 10 inches — and
was a tomboy. She loved to play
baseball and ride bicycles, her
mother said, especially with her
younger brother, Scott.
“All kids loved to play with
Maxine,” her mother said. “She
loved to play ball and ride bikes;
she was tough and tall.”
Born to Adam and Josephine
Harrison, Maxine is constantly
on her family’s mind. Maxine,
who was part Cheyenne-Arapaho,
enjoyed going to powwows.
LO V E STO RI E S
CHECK OUT MORE ONLINE AT WWW.NEWS-STAR.COM
More local
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new
story for-
mats
Emily and Bill Tedmond Ashlie and Jake Gilbertson
Long-time college pals Worldly travelers
find love in each other fall in love in Madrid
McLOUD — It’s been 25 years
since a 15-year-old McLoud girl
McLOUD — It’s been 25 years
since a 15-year-old McLoud girl
was found badly beaten and shot to
death, but her mother, Josephine
was found badly beaten and shot to
death, but her mother, Josephine
Harrison, still clings to the hope Harrison, still clings to the hope
that one day the homicide will be
solved and she’ll know why her
that one day the homicide will be
solved and she’ll know why her
daughter was killed. daughter was killed.
Lucille Maxine Harrison disap- Lucille Maxine Harrison disap-
peared from her home in McLoud peared from her home in McLoud
Oct. 3, 1982.
$IDUPHUFKHFNLQJKLVZKHDW¿HOG
QHDU86DQG(:GLVFRY-
Oct. 3, 1982.
$IDUPHUFKHFNLQJKLVZKHDW¿HOG
QHDU86DQG(:GLVFRY-
ered her body about 9 a.m. Oct. 5,
1982.
ered her body about 9 a.m. Oct. 5,
1982.
Who killed her and why remains Who killed her and why remains
a mystery.
(YHU\RQHFDOOHGWKHWHHQE\KHU
a mystery.
(YHU\RQHFDOOHGWKHWHHQE\KHU
middle name, Maxine. She was a tall middle name, Maxine. She was a tall
girl — 5 feet, 10 inches — and was a
tomboy. She loved to play baseball
girl — 5 feet, 10 inches — and was a
tomboy. She loved to play baseball
and ride bicycles, her mother said,
especially with her younger brother,
Scott.
and ride bicycles, her mother said,
especially with her younger brother,
Scott.
“All kids loved to play with Max-
ine,” her mother said. “She loved
to play ball and ride bikes; she was
“All kids loved to play with Max-
ine,” her mother said. “She loved
to play ball and ride bikes; she was
tough and tall.”
Born to Adam and Josephine
tough and tall.”
Born to Adam and Josephine
Harrison, Maxine is constantly on Harrison, Maxine is constantly on
her family’s mind. Maxine, who was
part Cheyenne-Arapaho, enjoyed
her family’s mind. Maxine, who was
part Cheyenne-Arapaho, enjoyed
going to powwows and dances with going to powwows and dances with
C O N TI N U E O N PA G E 1 3
} < LEFT:
SUBMIT Use this
PHOTOS
template to
Please send your
Easter photos to ask readers
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@
xxxxxxxxxx.com to submit
and we’ll run them
in our print edition news for a
and on our Web
site www.xxxxxx-
variety of
xxxxxxxxxxx.com.
holidays.
News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 4

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

NEWS CUBE TRAINING: PAGE 3

More local

EASY LOCAL
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new

PROFILES story for-

mats

GOOD EATS TAUNTON BAKERY

WHAT: Turn your page 3 into a location

for local profiles. Go away from jumps
and random other regional stories and
put local people on page 3 without hav-
ing to do the writing yourself.

WHO SHOULD BE PROFILED? Create Tom Mikula, senior water plant operator, shows water samples. The plant is operated by Taunton Public Utilities,
a rotation of different themes for the which provides water to homes in Taunton, Berkley and Dighton. JOHN SHISHMANIAN/TAUNTON GAZETTE

feature, such as health care, public

safety, education and volunteers.
Taunton Bakery takes the cake
WHAT KIND OF CONTENT? Through By JOHN C. PENNEY Canandaigua Community
the different themes you pick, ask the Taunton Thee questions
jcpenney@TauntonGazette.com School Board. Fuller says
Bakery What do you enjoy about
different organizations to pick folks
Location 1355 W.
(555) 123-4567 her 34 years as a teacher
will help her lead the dis- 1Connecticut’s
your work?
from their organization who are news- Chicago Ave., Today we sit down with trict in the years ahead. water quality
meets, and in some ways
worthy for some reason, like a new doc- Taunton Bonnie Fuller, a longtime Today we sit down with exceeds, national drinking
Hours Mon-Sun teacher who last year was Bonnie Fuller, a longtime
tor, a police officer who recently won an 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. elected president of the teacher who last year was
water standards, according
What do you enjoy about
award or a volunteer who has been in- Years in busi- Canandaigua Community
School Board. Fuller says
elected president of the
Canandaigua Community
2 your work?
Connecticut’s water quality
volved for years. ness 76
Specialty Per- her 34 years as a teacher School Board. Fuller says meets, and in some ways
will help her lead the dis- her 34 years as a teacher exceeds, national drinking
simmon apple
What do you enjoy about
HOW DO I DO THIS? Reach out to tarts
Philosophy on
trict in the years ahead.
Today we sit down with
will help her lead the dis-
trict in the years ahead. 3 your work?
Connecticut’s water quality
groups that always seem to want to be food “Whatever Bonnie Fuller, a longtime Today we sit down with
meets, and in some ways
teacher who last year was Bonnie Fuller, a longtime
in your paper and ask them to get in- makes you say
‘yum’” elected president of the teacher who last.
exceeds, national drinking
exceeds, national drinking
volved. Provide a profile form (the one
attached) and ask the organization to
fill it out. If you create a rotation, give
each organization a deadline. Since it’s
a Q&A form, use the Q&A alternative
story format that you have available.

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com

News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 5

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

NEWS CUBE TRAINING: OPINION PAGE

More local

5 THINGS WE
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new

WANT TO SEE story for-

mats

WHAT: Exactly what it says: You

highlight in a couple sentences
and in graphic form, with art,
five things in town you would
like readers to help make hap-
pen in the week ahead: Go to
Town Meeting and vote; cheer
on the girls lacrosse team; clear
ice from all the sidewalks
around the elementary school;
pull the weeds covering the me-
morial plaque in the town com-
mon; call your state
representative and tell her to
vote down the gas tax.

WHY: This is a great way to

make you page more vibrant
with your opinions on local is-
sues. You can be the cheer-
leader or the noodge to help
make progress – large and
small – in town. This could be-
come a must-see page every
week and generate lots of buzz
in town.

WHEN: Every week. 5 Things

will keep you in tune with the
events and issues in your town
and keep readers coming back.

HOW: As you edit, make the

rounds, speak on the phone,
drive through town, build a list
of potential ‘5 Things’ options.
They do not all have to be about
serious town issues – a mix, in
fact, is key. But they should all
be as local as can be.

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com

News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 6

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

NEWS CUBE TRAINING: OPINION PAGE

More local

YOUR LOCAL
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new

E-BOARD
WHAT: An ASF package containing the head-
story for-
mats

shots of 5-6 community members and their re-

sponses to a question posed by the editor via
e-mail.

WHY: People want to know what their neighbors

are thinking about the issues in their town and
how their views may match or differ from their
own. E-boards are great ways to make your Opin-
ion page the focal point for community opinion
and comment. The E-board packages will spur
more comment and generate more local content
for your page and the Web.

WHEN: It has to be the hottest topic you can

think of in town – questions that spark some pas-
sion and controversy. Keep it local. Don’t ask,
“What do you think of the town budget?” Ask,
“What do you think about the schools getting a 4
percent hike and the rest of the town just 1 per-
cent?” These are the kinds of questions that will
spark debate and followup.

HOW: There’s work up front. Through newspaper

and Web callouts and your source list, build a
group of 25-30 potential participants. Have them
send headshots. Rotate the questions among the
group, depending on the size of your list. Produc-
tion is easy. Grab the right template and flow in
the answers. Run this content on the Web, too, to
generate comments. And use those new com-
ments in print to keep the debate alive.

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com

News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 7

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

NEWS CUBE TRAINING: OPINION PAGE

More local

KIDS IN THE
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new

SPOTLIGHT story for-

mats

WHAT: An ASF where a group of middle or high

school students in your town responds to questions in
the news – these can be local topics or national.
Something going on in the high school or in the White
House. They can be hard news or pop culture - John
Kerry or The Jonas Brothers.

WHY: Beyond the fresh names and faces, this is a

great way to create some buzz among young people –
and their parents and grandparents - in your town.

WHEN: Every week. By opening the debate to na-

tional events and pop culture, there will be many hot
topics to choose from to generate interesting re-
sponses from the students. As with the E-board, put
some thought into questions that would generate
more than just a couple-word response. Don’t ask,
“What do you think of Barack Obama?” Ask, “Tell us
three things you think Barack Obama should do in his
first year in office, and why.”

HOW: Again, there’s work up front. This could open

with a visit to local classrooms to talk about your
newspaper and Web site. Contact principals and
teachers in your local schools. You will need 2-3 class-
rooms to launch. Gather headshots of the students. E-
mail questions to the teachers and have the teacher
gather and send 5-6 responses back. Use different
students each time in a rotation. Production is easy.
Grab the right template and flow in the responses.
Run this content on the Web, too, to generate com-
ments. And use those new comments in print to keep
the debate alive.

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com

News Cube fliers.qxd:Layout 1 3/2/09 3:47 PM Page 8

gatehouse
N E W S S E R V I C E

NEWS CUBE TRAINING: OPINION PAGE

More local

ISSUE OF
faces, more
local content
submitted by
readers and
more new

THE WEEK
WHAT: In an effort to grow more local content on HOW: Establish a group of people who could answer
story for-
mats

your opinion page, consider creating an “issue of the
week” format with local officials.
WHY: It’s an easy way to get local voices on your
opinion page without asking folks to write a 15-inch
column.
the questions every month: Public safety; religion
and religious institutions; arts and culture; education
and schools, city and county government and law-
makers. E-mail them the form and two weeks before
it would run, send them a topic or invite them to
come up with a topic.

AT ISSUE: City’s budget is in big trouble

• The Issue: The city is
facing a $5 million budget
shortfall
• Name: Dave
Johnson
• Position: Johnstown
mayor
• Why it matters: The
shortfall could seriously
impact the services that
the city is going to provide
the residents
of this 15,000
population
city.
• How we
should tackle
it: The city needs to freeze
salary increases for all city
employees and we need to
make $100,00 cuts to all
city departments. Those
cuts should be due to my
office no later than Feb. 21.
We also need to consider
raising property taxes by .5
percent. While I know this
is not popular, it’s really
necessary for the work
that is ahead of us.
• Who would benefit:
While it’s hard to see the
benefit right now, the city
will be in better shape in
two or three years by mak-
ing these difficult decisions
today.
• Why this is the best ap-
proach: Simply doing noth-
ing is unacceptable. While
this is going to be hard on
residents and city employ-
ees, if we do nothing the
next administration will find
itself in a ton of trouble.
• The next step should
be: To hold a public hear-
ing on March 11 at 7 p.m. at
Town Hall, so residents can
ask questions

QUESTIONS? Contact Chris Biondi at cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com or David Arkin at darkin@gatehousemedia.com