These examples show how newsrooms have worked to engage with their users and ask for feedback — through social media and online platforms, or by using phone calls and hosting in-person events. Some examples include:
Accessibility of contact information • Comments • Crowdsourcing • Customer service • In-person interactions • Inviting or responding to feedback or questions
See a few stand-out examples in this gallery, and scroll down for a longer list to get inspired.
Looking for additional help on how to implement similar ideas in your newsroom? Check out our Listening Trust Kit, which walks you through how to listen and engage with your community.
“ENGAGING WITH USERS” HIGHLIGHTS
MirrorIndy hosts public events where reporters invite the community to come and chat about what’s important to them, what people want to see from local news and share things that are happening in your community.
Santa Cruz Local is regularly in touch with people in their area to better understand how they can serve them. They also do a great job talking publicly about these efforts and have published a page on their website detailing what community engagement means to them.
While revamping the newspaper’s commenting policy, the Seattle Times reached out to readers to get their feedback and input.
The San Francisco Chronicle added a chatbot, called the Assignment Editor, to its website’s homepage to collect reader feedback.
The Day used social media and their reporting to connect members of their community, sharing how they liked to report on positive news when they can.
New Mexico PBS centered their elections coverage around their audience by asking users for questions they had about the state’s U.S. Senate candidates.