There is increased interest in newsrooms I know in how to encourage something larger than Twitter but smaller than Wordpress --- pithy information that serves a role.
Which is why Tumblr seems to be getting more attention in recent weeks. It's an easy-to-use platform and it serves a good niche as a format. Alex Madrigal, a senior online presence at TheAtlantic.com, identifies the new ProPublica Tumblr concept --- Officials Say The Darndest Things --- as a great example of how newsrooms could use it.
Madrigal notes five key attributes: it's not duplicative (ProPublica's focus is on other forms), it's in keeping with the platform (it's not super-serious, but has a purpose), it's low-maintenance (the platform is easy to launch), it's interactive (users can submit), and it's viral (sharing is simple).
It's a good role model for others trying to find the right way to deliver such information.
Which is why Tumblr seems to be getting more attention in recent weeks. It's an easy-to-use platform and it serves a good niche as a format. Alex Madrigal, a senior online presence at TheAtlantic.com, identifies the new ProPublica Tumblr concept --- Officials Say The Darndest Things --- as a great example of how newsrooms could use it.
Madrigal notes five key attributes: it's not duplicative (ProPublica's focus is on other forms), it's in keeping with the platform (it's not super-serious, but has a purpose), it's low-maintenance (the platform is easy to launch), it's interactive (users can submit), and it's viral (sharing is simple).
It's a good role model for others trying to find the right way to deliver such information.
