The Pin Board Press

Losing Pages, Gaining Freedom

Kevin Dupuy — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:18:01 +0000

A major argument for the conversion to Internet editions is the ability for newspapers to become free to the subscribers. The cost the readers pay for a print newspaper is used to help pay for the newspaper’s cost of printing on the paper. In fact, the sum of subscription fees usually does not allow newspapers to turn a profit from printing. “People don’t pay for their news in traditional newspapers: they pay for the paper, which typically costs the company more than it charges for the finished product. So in theory, giving away the news without the paper looks like a good deal for newspapers, if they can keep the advertising“ (Kinsley).

Newspapers obtain their profit through the use of advertising within the newsprint. Print newspapers have an advantage for advertisers. Print newspapers have a set number of subscribers, and the advertiser can be assured that a certain amount of people will receive the purchased ad. Online newspaper ads do not guarantee how many people will see the advertisement.

Online newspapers have an advantage of not having a cost of printing and can offer its news to the viewers free of charge. A website can be hosted for little cost using web hosting sites like Godaddy.com. By using sites like these, a WordPress newspaper can be hosted for the low cost of five dollars a month (“Wordpress and Go Daddy Hosting”). This small operating cost can be compensated through the use of advertising.

Connecting to Readers through Facebook

Kevin Dupuy — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:03:38 +0000

Facebook pages are basically user profiles for organizations or groups. These pages are used for anything from clubs and organizations to musical groups. Facebook groups allow these organizations to post photos, links, and even videos right onto the message boards of the most popular social networking site in the United States. Facebook was created and geared towards college students. Because of this, newspapers see a lucrative opportunity to advertise easily to younger adults (Safko 452). Newspapers which use this method to promote themselves include The Slidell Independent and The New York Times (Lo).

When a Facebook user becomes a “fan” of a Facebook page, he then is able to receive multiple messages from the page directly to their homepage. “As fans of an organization, users receive updates about what the organization is up to via a text story or links and can view videos, photos, text stories, and applications, usually posted by an editor or producer from the online staff. Pages direct fans to the organization’s main website” (Lo).

The Power of Tweets

Kevin Dupuy — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:02:31 +0000

Twitter, conversely, is used mainly in the corporate world and by celebrities to promote certain causes and events. “Twitter was seemingly everywhere in 2009, with sports stars, celebrities, politicians and journalists using the micro blogging platform to promote everything from themselves to their employers to the issues they advocate for” (Rindfuss). Twitter is geared towards sharing announcements in very little amount of text characters (Safko 536). The 140 character limit hasn’t limited the power of Twitter but has actually boosted its potential. With the ability to receive “tweets” as messages sent directly to their mobile phones, users can receive breaking news anywhere in the world instantly. “Being based inherently on the SMS length limitation ensures that Twitter works absolutely brilliantly on mobile devices. It’s one of the few social services that essentially works just as effectively on your phone as on the web interface…”(Dybwab). The tweets can include leads to the story being promoted and a link to allow instant access to the news stories. The ease of access allows breaking news to reach its readers instantly. Some notable newspapers which use Twitter include The Boston Herald and LA Times (Rindfuss).

Meet the Editor: Kevin Lee Dupuy Jr.

Kevin Dupuy — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:59:29 +0000

Kevin Dupuy is a senior and proud member of the class of 2011. He is 17 and is looking forward to spending a second year on the Tiger’s Roar staff and returning as a Managing Editor. He spends most of his journalism class managing the site on the newspaper as well as gathering information which the writers need. Kevin is always looking for new ideas and ways to promote the newspaper. He reported for the football season last year, covering every home game. In edition to being a Managing Editor on the school newspaper, Kevin also serves as an editor for the morning announcements and broadcasting crew.