Great point about the reporter going to the people, instead of bringing the people to the paper.

Reporters don’t need to be in the office. They could set up shop at Panera or Starbucks. With wifi everywhere plus cell phones, flip video cameras, etc., they could report, write, blog, upload video or audio right from the coffee shop and be available to folks.

At first, it would be odd. But if every day, Joe reporter is at Panera, eventually he’d get to know the regulars. Or you could promote that he’s there. Might lessen productivity unless you consider connecting with readers part of a reporter’s job, as I do.

– Gina

Love your blog post. You really develop the idea. Like the beer on tap. That would draw people in.

Anthony,

Sounds like you worked at a cool weekly. I like the idea of sponsoring events, and bringing readers there. It has a lot of logistics to work out, but it has so much potential.

And I agree that you need to formalize a bit (as Chas outlines) to make it work — both for readers and the paper.

To me, telling people stuff in person is just another way of conveying news. On my beat, parenting, I suggested having parenting classes right at the paper (how to potty train your kids, etc.) We bring in the expert. We supply the space. Readers get their information from us — and we write about their experiences in a story, blog, etc.

Thanks for all the ideas and expanding the concept so thoughtfully.

– Gina

I know that a lot of newspapers tightened their security even more after the Carl Drega shooting spree in New Hampshire in 1997, which ended at a newspaper office.

But I love the idea of the news “office” in the diner, coffee shop, café. With today’s mojos and wi-fi, it might be easier than ever to do.

A good mental exercise might be: What if you sold your press and building; how would you cover your community?

Available space would certainly be a concern for many newspapers. I know that definitely would have been a problem at several of the newspapers where I worked/interned. I really think two keys for newspapers down the road will be to continue improving their Web sites and to connect with the readers on a more personal level instead of just the old letters to the editor.

You make some great points. Please feel free to provide feedback/comments on some of the items posted at scoopingthenews.blogspot.com. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, this is very much in line with what I’d conceived. (Guess I should have read your link in the comment above mine).

I especially like the idea of creating multiple meeting spaces according individual beats and having these meetings held within the newspaper’s own space. In my conception, I hadn’t considered this because the paper I worked for doesn’t have the available space to accommodate this kind of plan, and so would have to find an outside venue.

Is this what you mean by more formalized?

“Put it in the vast space created when the press disappeared. Bring some of the reporters and desks down to the café to be available to the café customers. The café would be a place to drink coffee and tea and have a bagel – for a fee of course. But more importantly it would be a gathering place for conversation and experiencing the news firsthand gathered around a news desk.
Some facilitated method would probably be needed to allow organized group discussion led by the desk reporter of the hour. Reporters and columnists would be regularly scheduled to the café desk. These sessions could be taped and played on large screens in the café or broadcast via radio or video to other café locations or even a local cable channel outlet. Clearly there would be advertizing opportunities, but the business model needs further defined.

Such an idea could be adapted to ‘sports news pub’ venue within the pressroom space with beer on tap. A customer could come in to hear and banter with their favorite sports columnist. Other venues could be developed (the press space left vacant is huge) such as the ‘political news cigar bar’ or the ‘cultural news winery’. All of these possibilities would have revenue generating potential and could be expanded to other spaces in the community beyond the pressroom.”