Digital Journalism

Chuck ChiangAsia-Pacific writer, online editor

Vancouver Sun

1） Background

• - Name• - Education/Experience• - Originally a print reporter; changed in 2007

at the Calgary Herald• - With the Vancouver Sun since 2010; TYB

editor from 2011 to 2015.

2) Why Digital?

• - First question: Who are your readers?• - The habit of readers: What are your habits?

Readers are people, too.• - Digital first: Mobile, Tablet and Desktop• - How often do you use social media? How

much news do you get from social media?

3) Importance of Social Media

• - Breaking news. How do you get yours?• - Social media is the FIRST LINE of contact. • - First-mover’s advantage on search-engine

space (SEO).• - Brief file - social media/email notices –

update - repeat.• - BE ON YOUR TOES: ALWAYS SHIFT BETWEEN

CONTENT SPHERE and SOCIAL SPHERE.

3) Importance of Social Media(Cont.)

• - REPEAT.• - UPDATING (Increases SEO rating; draws

audience to come back)• - ENGAGING (Sense of two-way

communications; empowering readers to engage)

• - Build YOUR brand. Associate readers’ idea of the content to you as a journalist/reporter.

4) Lessons from TYB

• - Taiyangbao.ca: Chinese news site from scratch. • - At closing, 700,000+ page views a month. More

than double other Chinese-media’s FB following at peak (8,000).

• - How? Very small team, 1-2 people on the desk most of the time.

• - KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. Who are you writing for? Who reads your news?

• - CAST A WIDE NET (in terms of access): Simplified/Traditional. Multiple styles/terms.

4) Lessons from TYB(Cont.)

• - Fast AND accurate: One is ineffective without the other.

• - Mix content: Don’t concentrate on just buzzy items. Balance.

• - But don’t be afraid to inject fun stories. Remember, your role is to engage.

• - Focus ON THE READERS: What’s important to them? What should be important to them? (Value proposition)

• - Always look to improve, but don’t take criticism too personally.

5) Overall tips to remember

• - Be flexible. Be ready to be flexible.• - There’s always something to do. Don’t stop

moving your feet.• - Be fast, but do not hurry.• - Always engage audience if you can. • - Be the audience. Grow the conversation.• - VALUE PROPOSITION.

Chuck Chiang (蒋长欣／蔣長欣 ), Vancouver Sunchchiang@vancouversun.com