SN podcasting hits Web

After my column "SN needs your help, constructive criticism to strengthen, improve" (SN 1/23), a reader in California e-mailed me, astonished that the State News' Web site didn't have podcasting or Internet radio.

The reader made a point that almost every newspaper's Web site currently hosts blogs and other forms of multimedia and The State News was "falling behind" with the times, instead of being innovative as a group of young, fresh journalists.

That one hurt a little.

Better late than never, The State News is in its fourth week of producing podcasts. Although we did start airing our podcasts after the e-mail I received, the e-mail itself wasn't what made us get started; it had already been in the works. But the e-mail did serve as a little kick in the butt for me to firmly say, "Yes, let's totally do this." Because if one person in California wanted to hear podcasts, then how many people out there were feeling the same way?

After embarking in the podcast world, the biggest concern I heard from people (albeit internally, within the newsroom) was that some people felt a 20-minute show would be too long or there was a lack of interest in podcasts in general.

Personally, I'm a big fan of podcasts. My feeds range from National Public Radio's "This American Life" and "On the Media" to Grey's Anatomy podcasts and ESPN Radio.

With hundreds of various feeds ranging from news talk to sports to entertainment, there's something out there that will cater to anyone's interest and length of attention span.

Currently, State News podcasts feature two separate bits about opinion and sports. We're hoping to launch one about entertainment, as well.

So why should you spend 15-20 minutes of your day listening to what we have to say?

For one, The State News strives to be your source of campus news. After all, we have the same classes as you and we live in the same halls/buildings as you do. We have an idea of what you're talking about and want to deliver news and analyses we think will affect you.

If there's anything you'd like for us to address, let us know.

For past podcasts, please visit www.statenews.com/multimedia.

Journalism research analysis

There are various studies out there that try to gauge what readers want from a newspaper, how they seek out information and figure out the best way to present that information.

As a journalism student, I'm interested to find out where the future of journalism is headed. Also, as the State News managing editor, it is necessary for me to read the studies so our paper can better serve its readers.

Poynter.org, an online resource for journalists, conducted four eye-tracking studies with the focus on comparing print and online news reading. It used eye-tracking equipment that followed a reader's eyes when viewing specific elements of a newspaper, such as headlines, photos, captions, stories and graphics. This is important to The State News, because we try to use design elements to indicate what is the most important news while visually aiding written stories.

Another interesting study from the Online Journalism Review found that when a female reader looks at a photograph, she mostly looks at faces. However, when male readers look at a photo, not only do they focus on the face, but also on the subject's nether region. And this is regardless if the subject is human or animal.

I say next time you pick up a newspaper or magazine, try to zero in on what catches your eye. You may not notice it but every time you look at something, the same elements most likely catch your eye each time.

Reporting what matters to you

Come graduation time in May, I'm walking and, right now, what scares me most isn't the fact that I'll be out in the "real world" but that when I get out there, there isn't going to be anything available for me to do. That's my biggest concern about the economy.

So The State News also wants to know what your biggest concern is. Is it about jobs? Health care? Education? Public safety?

We want to analyze these issues regarding the economy, and we want to address your concerns. Send your suggestions to feedback@statenews.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Esther Gim is the State News managing editor. Reach her at feedback@statenews.com.