Tracking your impact

Lauren HaslerWisconsinWatch.org@laurenhasler/@wiswatch

Why?

• Reporting to funders

• Making new pitches

• Teaching your audience

• Guiding newsroom decision-making

Story pickups

• Homegrown system:o Approximately 8 hours/month

• Paid options:o Universal Information Serviceso Meltwatero Cisiono TVEyes (broadcast)

• Our conclusion: paid options are not reliable on their own; homegrown is more complete, not as expensive

Conducting the search

• Set up Google Alertso For WisconsinWatch.org:

Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism WCIJ WisconsinWatch, WisconsinWatch.org Reporters’ names Specific story keywords

• Search on individual news sites

• Use different search engines

• Wisconsin Newspaper Association News Tracker

What to count

• Story pickups

• Columns/editorials

• Follow stories

• Influential blog posts

Tracker spreadsheet

Worksheets for:o Our storieso News organizationso Slug infoo Pivot table (# of stories per news org)

Tracker spreadsheet continued

In “our stories” worksheet:o Slugo Dateo News outleto Headlineo Linko Story type (main, condensed, column/editorial, follow)o Elements used (sidebar, photo, graphic, video)o Mention?o Localized?o Media type (print, web, radio, tv)

Tracker spreadsheet continued

In “slug info” worksheet:o Slugo Dateo Hyperlinko Locationo Categories

Tracker spreadsheet continued

In “news orgs” worksheet:o Nameo Typeo Locationo Affiliationo Circulationo Readershipo Audience

Sharing

• Embed Google spreadsheet on your site

• Include only pertinent info

• Use different tabs for viewing options

Mapping

More meaningful than a spreadsheet for your

audience and for your news organization

Option one: Batchgeoo Freeo Little data visualization knowledge necessaryo Easy to embedo Simple to navigateo Downside – advertisements, few options for

customization

Mapping continued

Option two:o Tableau/Google Public Data Explorero Animate pickups over timeo Include more details about each pickupo More sorting optionso Requires more knowledge/bigger time commitment

Other metrics to track

• Social mediao Hootsuite/Tweetdeck/Facebook page insights

• Web analyticso Google Analyticso Kissmetricso Mixpanel

• Comments

• Trackbacks/pingbacks

• Story impacts spreadsheet

Tips & tricks

• Make label for Google alerts, archive first, delete after it’s entered

• Update weekly, if possible, or monthly

• Number each story for spreadsheet organization

• Keep a printout of slugs and news orgs next to you when updating tracker (consistency)

• Master the art of Vlookup to join spreadsheets

Get in touch!

Lauren Hasler

Public Engagement Director and Reporter

Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

lhasler@wisconsinwatch.org

@laurenhasler

608-963-1249