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chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginning

Everything changes when you make readers leaders

Dean Betz, online news editor

2chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

3chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we could with our own staff alone

4chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we could with our own staff alone

Changing the way we cover news – for the better

5chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBlogs

Engaging our writers – and our Web site – more with readers

Providing more perspective on topics than we could with our own staff alone

Changing the way we cover news – for the better

The future? It's not about us. It's about the readers

6chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

7chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

Blogging by reporters and editors

8chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

Blogging by reporters and editors Still the newspaper’s voice

9chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe staff

Blogging by reporters and editors Still the newspaper’s voice First steps at building a relationship with

the readers through comments and feedback

10chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningMeMo

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Blogging: Just the beginningMeMo

Started as a daily commentary on popular culture for staff

12chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningMeMo

Started as a daily commentary on popular culture for staff

Now one of site’s most popular blogs, earned honors (including an EPpy) for its clever, oblique angle.

13chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

14chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

Early step at giving community a voice

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Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

Early step at giving community a voice

Launched early 2006

16chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningMama Drama

Early step at giving community a voice

Launched early 2006

Original videos, great comment-conversation

17chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningHurricane Rita

18chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningHurricane Rita

Real-time reporting of storm’s approach, massive evacuation

19chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningHurricane Rita

Real-time reporting of storm’s approach, massive evacuation

Readers connect, share experiences in comments

20chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

21chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

Readers’ report on evacuation via phone, e-mail, text

22chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

Readers’ report on evacuation via phone, e-mail, text

Share tips on gas, supplies, highway congestion

23chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningThe Road Home

Readers’ report on evacuation via phone, e-mail, text

Share tips on gas, supplies, highway congestion

‘Networked journalism’ on a simple scale

24chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

25chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

"Number One … the Houston Chronicle. By a mile"

Relationship with readers: “Alternately inform, and be informed by them”

26chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

27chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency

28chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

29chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

Voice

30chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

Voice Comments,

reader participation

31chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningBest blogs

Ease-of-use, clear navigation

Currency Quality of

writing, thinking and linking

Voice Comments,

reader participation

Range, originality

32chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

33chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

Reporters blogged Enron trial live

34chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

Reporters blogged Enron trial live

Readers added depth via comments

35chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningChanging reporting

Reporters blogged Enron trial live

Readers added depth via comments

Back-and-forth grew into “Ask Mary”

36chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth

37chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … from pets

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Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … to guns

39chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … to

gadgets

40chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningReaders add

breadth … to faith

41chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

42chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

43chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

Tools for people to tell their own stories

44chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

Tools for people to tell their own stories

Make groups

45chron.com

Blogging: Just the beginningIt’s not about us

It’s about the network

Tools for people to tell their own stories

Make groups Drive the news