With national and international information constantly accessible on multiple platforms by readers, US newspapers are refocusing their newsgathering efforts to their immediate surroundings, digging deep into the everyday lives of their local communities. This movement has been enormously facilitated by digital media technologies. American newspapers have adopted these technologies, reorganized their newsrooms and retrained their journalists to create innovative and targeted content for readers who are increasingly news hungry, yet have increasingly less time. 

During the WEF "How US Newspapers Engage Communities" study tour, you will learn first-hand the steps that US papers are taking to convert their newsrooms into fully-digital, hyper-local publications, steps that are rejuvenating these papers' role as public service watchdogs for their communites. Each newsroom will also present its best multimedia strategies for covering the US Presidential Elections, being held two weeks before the study tour.


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Monday, 17 November

Tuesday, 18 November

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Having undergone what is arguably the most radical newsroom reorganization in the US, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) is a pioneer in emphasizing digital journalism to refocus on regional news. In 2007, AJC's 12 departments became 4 departments, two for content production, one that oversees print content, and one that oversees web content.
At AJC, study tour participants will learn:
- how AJC newsroom executives organized and managed the massive reorganization
- how the new, streamlined newsroom improves workflow and coverage and what new editorial projects have emerged as a result
- how online and print journalistic resources have been rededicated to covering the Atlanta region
Related information:
AJC's digital overhaul
Reinventing the newsroom
Don't kill the print version
From 12 to 4 departments

CNN/cnn.com
CNN.com is the third-most popular news website in the United States. Together with its parent company, the site is bucking media industry trends by doubling its news-gathering resources. But perhaps what most distinguishes CNN.com from its competitors is its willingness to experiment with technology and its journalists.
At CNN.com, study tour participants will learn:
- how its team uses citizen journalism to contribute to original reporting through iReport (www.ireport.com)
- how it has created an invaluable news archive and database for its readers through BackStory
- how it forms strategic partnerships with new media platforms the likes of Digg (www.digg.com) to improve coverage and interaction with its audience
Related information:
iReport: Citizen Journalism portal
Backstory
Partnering with digg.com

Wednesday, 19 November

TAMPA TRIBUNE/tbo.com
For years, the Tampa Tribune has been considered a front runner in media convergence, sharing resources across print, television and online. But the paper is taking its convergence even further. Executive Editor Janet Coats announced to her newsroom in July 2008 that its central platform is TBO.com and its focus is hyperlocal.
At Tampa Tribune/TBO.com study tour participants will learn:
- how it constructed the "Interactive Newsroom" in which more responsibility is given to journalists
- which new editorial positions have been created, which have been eliminated, and how the responsibilities of the editorial staff has changed
- how the newsroom has rededicated resources to dig deep into its local community  
Related information:
The Interactive Newsroom
Newsroom reaction to reorganization
Going hyper-local, managing the change

POYNTER INSTITUTE/ST. PETERSBURG TIMES/tampabay.com
Inextricably linked, the non-profit Poynter Institute and the St. Petersburg Times have been watchdogging quality journalism in the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area for decades. The Poynter Institute has since branched out, providing top-quality training to journalists and editors around the world, while the St. Petersburg Times continues doing what it has always done best: providing its community with the information it needs.
At Poynter/St. Petersburg Times study tour participants will learn:
- what new media positions, and the skills that go with them, are necessary for the multimedia newspaper newsroom
- novel ideas for engaging communities such as interactive sites dedicated to "Moms"
- the best means of providing your newsroom the training it needs to compete in the digital era
Related information:
Go Momma! - community site for mothers
NewsU - online education for journalists
The Poynter Institute

Thursday, 20 November

FORT MYERS NEWS-PRESS/GANNETT
The News-Press was used as an incubator for "The Information Center", the strategy of Gannett, America's largest publisher, to streamline workflow and dig deep into its papers' communities. For two years, News-Press journalists and editors have successfully employed innovative news-gathering methods, experiences they will share with you.
At the Fort Myers News-Press/Gannett, study tour participants will learn:
- how your journalists can gather news and publish on the road through Mobile Journalist (MoJo) techniques
- how to create and take advantage of local, online databases to help your newsroom find stories and provide an invaluable service to your community
- how your newsroom can take advantage of the knowledge of the community through "crowd-sourcing"
Related information:
Mobile journalists (MoJos)
Mojos change the newsroom
Online community databases
The local information center

NAPLES NEWS
Phil Lewis, Editor-in-Chief of the Naples News, was one of the first American editors to change the mindset of his newsroom, making it clear to staffers that they work for the website first and the paper second. Since then, the paper has developed numerous online features, to which its journalists have learned to adapt, and combined the features with community services.
At Naples News, study tour participants will learn:
- how to encourage the newsroom to think Web-first and create stories for the Web
- how to set up an in-house video production studio and daily webcast on the cheap
- how to create a daily, online interactive weather report
Related information
Journalists work for the website first
Naples News in-house TV studio
Local weather video and database

Friday, 21 November

MIAMI HERALD
The Miami Herald has over a century of award-winning investigative journalism experience. Now, under new ownership of the McClatchy Company, the Herald is upping the ante, experimenting with new types of online journalism, including a top-notch video team and a website dedicated to watchdog journalism in the Miami region.
At the Miami Herald, study tour participants will learn:
- how to create space for the community to have immediate access to public documents
- how to create comprehensive, multimedia stories across platforms
- how to form content-sharing partnerships to save journalistic resources
Related information
Miami Herald video player
Miami's watchdog source
Outsourcing production

THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Having been a stalwart supporter of quality American journalism for decades, the Knight Foundation is currently investing in promising digital journalism projects for local communities across America and the world. During a lunch with Knight, study tour participants will learn about some of these innovative projects and how to participate in them.
Related Information
The Knight Foundation website
The Knight News Challenge



Study Tour: Fees and Conditions

MAXIMUM OF 30 PARTICIPANTS
 (Study Tour language: English)



You are encouraged to sign up soon as space is limited and participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Study Tour fee:
- Standard price: 5,900 euros.
- WAN and WEF members: 5,300 euros. 
The price includes all hotels, meals and transport within the United States during the duration of the study tour, (19h00 Monday, 17 November to 16h00 Friday, 21 November). Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the United States. The tour begins in Atlanta and ends in Miami.