Here at the
RTNDA@NAB convention in Las Vegas, I've heard several interesting debates about one facet of web strategy: is it wise for a news organization's website to link to the work of a direct competitor? One side says: "No - we'll send 'em to the enemy and lose 'em." Another says: "Be the resource for all relevant info or someone else will." If you're a news manager having that debate in your newsroom, you're probably wasting precious time arguing. (My colleague, Al Tompkins, is addressing similar issues in
this post from the convention.)
That's what
Hofstra University professor Bob Papper would tell you. Bob's chair of the department of journalism, media studies and public relations. He's well-known at RTNDA for his research into newsroom staffing and salaries and about news viewers' perspectives. He's also know for his work on the
Middletown Media Studies at Ball State University, which examined the media consumption habits of everyday folks.
I talked with Bob about web strategy, as broadcasters try to allocate resources and bring eyeballs to all news content. On this video, I ask him about "linking to the enemy." His message for both print and broadcast newsrooms: It's not about you:
Hi Mark: My friend, I think you're amazed because you've...
