SUNY New Paltz: npbloggersnpbloggers.newpaltz.edu

SUNY New Paltz: npbloggersnpbloggers.newpaltz.edu

Rachel ReubenDirector of Web Communication & Strategic

Projects

npbloggersJessica Green & Audra Berryann

Rachel ReubenDirector of Web Communication & Strategic

Projects

npbloggersJessica Green & Audra Berryann

Compelling Reasons to BlogCompelling Reasons to Blog• 19% of online teens keep a blog & 38% read them

• girls age 15-17 are more likely to blog; 25% of girls this age have one

•7% of adult Internet users have their own blog & 27% read themPEW INTERNET & AMERICAN LIFE PROJECT 11/2/05

Implementation & SelectionImplementation & Selection• Office of Public Affairs initiative, Oct. 2005

• Selected 7 students (sophomores, juniors & seniors)

•All students were cleared through StudentAffairs office (no judicial files)

Implementation & SelectionImplementation & Selection• Worked with Study Abroad office tosimultaneously launch abroadblogs

Software/HardwareSoftware/Hardware

• WordPress on existing Linux server

• npbloggers.newpaltz.edu, abroadblogs.newpaltz.edu & my.newpaltz.edu/blog reside on the same server; three separate instances of WordPress running different themes

TrainingTraining• 1 hour in computer lab, taught WordPress

• Provide articles about blogging

• Reviewed guidelines

• Signed contract• See: http://www.newpaltz.edu/blogs/packet.pdf

Contract & RewardsContract & Rewards

• Guidelines & Tips/Contract (approved by Ellen Messina, SUNY Counsel)

• Palm Zire 72 w/ built-in camera & voice recorder

• 1 gig memory card

• leather case

• conditions apply to keep these!

• Eight new students selected for 2006-07academic year, will begin week before fall semester starts

• Considering selecting a first-year student during summer orientation

npbloggers: The next generationnpbloggers: The next generation

Media Coverage & FeedbackMedia Coverage & Feedback• Oct. 2005-May 2006: 177 posts, 166 comments

• Comments:

Media Coverage & FeedbackMedia Coverage & Feedback

Visitors per monthVisitors per month

November ‘05: 5,940

December ‘05: 6,296

January ‘06: 7,230

February ‘06: 6,929

March ‘06: 7,083

April ‘06: 8,933

May ‘06: 12,120

More blogs . . .More blogs . . .

• We’re also using a blog as a communication tool for our Banner andmy.newpaltz.edu conversion project

npbloggers: Audra & Jessnpbloggers: Audra & Jess