Comments on: Return to the chat room

By: David Teeghman

David Teeghman — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:35:09 +0000

A Google Doc like that sounds like it makes a lot of sense for a large publication like the Missourian that’s churning out dozens of pieces of content each day. The Google Cal might only work for JSB because we’re only publishing one or two items each day.

By: Nick Jungman

Nick Jungman — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:44:21 +0000

You know, David, we really don’t use Google Calendar, but we have a Google Docs word processing file that fills the same function. Most everyone in the newsroom has access to that, and it explains what coming for the current day, some of what’s coming the next day and much of what we’re working on longer term.

By: David Teeghman

David Teeghman — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:34:29 +0000

GChat is the main way I communicate with J-School Buzz Contributors. Unlike Facebook chat, it never falters, and almost everyone already has a Google account. Good to see the Missourian is doing this too!

Does the Missourian use a Google calendar to keep track of the publication schedule for longer form/enterprise news content? We created a Google cal to keep track of when we plan to publish evergreen content, and shared that calendar with our contributors. We’ve found it’s the best way to keep everyone on the same page about when their content is being published.

By: JPS

JPS — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:23:27 +0000

I may not be around, anymore, but I’l pipe in and say I think this is a good idea. The design group here uses a chat to communicate what we have already done as well as whatever else we need to say. It works great to keep us from duplicating work, and I can see that being very useful for the Missourian in a breaking news situation.

In the editing center, we use AIM, which is set up company-wide, I’ve been told, but it works the same.

By: Tommy Piatchek

Tommy Piatchek — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:00:50 +0000

I’m for it, too. I think it would be a good way to connect those who might not be able to make it into the newsroom for their shift. They will still be able to contribute. I recently broke my arm and had to go to St. Louis to get the cast off, just hours before my shift started. If we had this system, I might have had the option of staying in St. Louis, while still completing my shift.

By: Justin Myers

Justin Myers — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:56:45 +0000

I’m all for it. I know we had some issues with people getting randomly kicked off and unable to rejoin for uncertain amounts of time, but that didn’t look like it happened too terribly often. Either way, I’d definitely be up for trying it out a bit more.