How to organize a Twitter chat without even trying

Attention tweeps, members of the Journal Register Company Idealab (yours included) will be holding a Twitter/CoverItLive chat on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.


We'll be divulging our not-so-secret journalistic tricks, and will be sharing what  new web tools we're using, ideas that didn't work (so you don't have to go through that path) and our visions for 2011 (I'm still waiting for the hovercar).

If you are interested in the future of news, you might want to check it out.  I'll post the feed in this blog as well.

Don't forget to bring your links.

Below is most of the Twittersation that created this beast. It's posted chronologically from newest to oldest, so you might want to start from the bottom.

Feature | Block ivanlajara Hint: You can follow #JRCChat automatically with http://tweetchat.com/room/jrcchat #JRC #JRCIdealab -5:40 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block jemersoncooper RT @ivanlajara: #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using (loving tweetizen), ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -5:13 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block AndyStettler Tweet with hashtag. Then, feed tweets through CIL for more than one way to access chat. Both mobile and standard access. #JRCchat -5:08 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block triciaambrose I like that idea @AndyStettler #JRCchat -5:06 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block AndyStettler Why not make one central link for everyone to use with CoverItLive? #JRCchat -5:05 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara Agree. Don't forget to bring your links! #JRCchat RT @AndyStettler: @ivanlajara Somehow the link still seems stronger than the hashtag. -5:00 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara @AndyStettler As for metrics: TWEETREACH! http://bit.ly/dF5aIz #JRCchat -4:50 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block mattderienzo RT @ivanlajara: #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using (loving tweetizen), ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -4:39 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block mattgrisafi RT @Kelly_Metz: #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using, ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -4:38 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block LouderCMarch Be there, journos - RT @Kelly_Metz: #JRCchat Tues at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using, ideas that didn't work, visions for 2011 #JRC -3:56 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block Kelly_Metz #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using, ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -3:48 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block sam_piroton RT @ivanlajara: #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using (loving tweetizen), ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -3:45 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block TomCaprood RT @ivanlajara: #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using (loving tweetizen), ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -3:40 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara #JRCchat Tuesday at 5 p.m. about new web tools you're using (loving tweetizen), ideas that didn't work and visions for 2011 #JRC #JRCIdealab -3:38 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block TomCaprood Agreed. Topic? RT @Kelly_Metz #JRCchat We facilitate, lead but others can join @ivanlajara @tomcaprood @loudercmarch @andystettler @timingle -3:33 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block timingle @Kelly_Metz @ivanlajara @tomcaprood @loudercmarch @andystettler #JRCchat sounds like a good tag for it -3:31 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block LouderCMarch This. RT @Kelly_Metz: #JRCchat. We facilitate, lead but others can join. @ivanlajara @tomcaprood @loudercmarch @andystettler @timingle -3:30 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara Ha! Beat me to it. I was going to suggest the same. RT @Kelly_Metz: It could just be #JRCchat. We facilitate, lead but others can join. -3:30 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block Kelly_Metz It could just be #JRCchat. We facilitate, lead but others can join. @ivanlajara @tomcaprood @loudercmarch @andystettler @timingle -3:29 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara Agree. Twitter it shall be. Shorter hash tag ideas? @Kelly_Metz @TomCaprood @loudercmarch @andystettler @timingle #JRCIdealabchat -3:25 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block LouderCMarch we could embed #jrcidealabchat via tweetizen on our blogs/sites - so it's tidy. @ivanlajara @andystettler @tomcaprood @timingle @kelly _metz -3:12 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara #JRCIdealabchat moderated or free-for-all? CoveritLive or Twitter? @AndyStettler @TomCaprood @Kelly_Metz @timingle @LouderCMarch #JRCideaLab -2:59 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block timingle @TomCaprood @Kelly_Metz @LouderCMarch @ivanlajara can't do this Tues. @ 5, but can after holidays! sounds fun! #JRCidealabchat -2:53 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block TomCaprood Tuesdays around 5 for #JRCidealabchat?? @Kelly_Metz @timingle @LouderCMarch @ivanlajara #JRCideaLab -2:22 PM Dec 16th, 2010

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Feature | Block AndyStettler FYI at APStyleBook is tweet chatting now..clogging feeds. RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #Idealabchat -2:20 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block AndyStettler Please dont. Use CoverItLive on a blog. You'll only annoy followers. RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #Idealabchat -2:14 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block timingle mid-week is always good RT @TomCaprood: What time would work for everyone? RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat -12:56 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block Kelly_Metz I like Tuesdays/Thursdays RT @TomCaprood: What time would work for everyone? RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat -12:52 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block LouderCMarch I like evenings, any day. RT @TomCaprood: What time would work for everyone? RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat -12:16 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block TomCaprood What time would work for everyone? RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat. You know who you are. -12:08 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block Kelly_Metz I'm down! RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat. You know who you are. -12:07 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block LouderCMarch Agreed. Weekly? RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat. You know who you are. -12:05 PM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block vsundqvist Can we live stream that? RT @ivanlajara: We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat. You know who you are. -2:23 AM Dec 16th, 2010

Feature | Block ivanlajara We should have a open twitter #JRC #Idealabchat. You know who you are. -12:11 AM Dec 16th, 2010

The production god is dead. Long live the Internet

As you know, it's been a hard but transformative week for the Freeman, having moved print production to Troy. Yes, our mailroom and press employees were let go as a result. I've know many of them for many years and it has been difficult to see them go.

But along with that difficult move comes a ray of inspiration. Our future is looking bright and I'm glad I get to be a part of it.

If you need a refresher, here's Publisher's Ira Fusfeld addressing our future and an illuminating interview by the Watershed Post with Managing Editor Tony Adamis, which addresses "how to make the transition from being a newspaper – which is a good thing to be -- to being a multimedia journalism company."

I'll let Journal Register Company CEO John Patton explain why we are doing what we are doing.


And here's New York University professor Jay Rosen and JRC adviser explaining the production routine.

One of the byproducts of this transformation for us has been an increase and timeliness on breaking news stories. Since the paper gets out earlier, editors and reporters working past production deadline can finally focus on news, rather than production. This means you get to know right away what has happened — say, a a city or county government meeting — right after it happens. Every reporter has been equipped with an Internet card for their laptops, enabling them to file directly from the field.

Furthermore, we are trying to refine and improve your experience with us on our site, on Facebook and on Twitter . And we are about to increase our offerings, both in print and online.

You might have noticed that we are now posting the police blotter (unsurprisingly the most popular story today).

Moreover, for one of my December Idealab experiments, I want to open up the site, big time.

I'm planning to have a daily Sound-Off, where I would pick three or four comments from our stories and then let you chime in if you want. I'm starting on this very blog—I want to see what kind of feedback we get with unmoderated comments — and then I'm planning to move it to our main site.


AFTER WE TAKE DOWN REGISTRATION FOR COMMENTS.

Almost half our traffic comes from the outside: Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, etc. Currently, one-time visitors who might want to comment don't, probably because they don't want to go through the hassle of registering. The idea is to allow people just to post comments after simply choosing a name. Moderation would still be operational, but it would be handled in a more timely manner. Ultimately, the best posts would be featured in print.

I've already talked to my higher-ups and are currently working on a system for moderation.

But before we do this, I want —need—your opinion.

What do you think?