As I conduct a digital workshop for the team at Sudkurier, in Lake Konstanz, Germany, we are all excited about the prospect that our project, called SHIFT, brings to this respected regional newspaper in the south of the country, a short distance from the Swiss border. This is such a pretty lake-side town that it is no wonder Germans dream of retiring here. I would too.

However, the workshops we are conducting are all about being busy and definitely nobody here is thinking retirement. But my 71 years of age do make me wonder if there is anything truly new under the sun. Yes, I know I am showing my age with that statement.

In preparing for this workshop, I wanted to offer the latest information I could about the way successful media companies attract and retain subscribers. So, I turned to my friend Earl Wilkinson, CEO of INMA (inma.org), the International News Media Organization. As usual, Earl turned around quickly with his organization’s latest data on the subject. By the way, you can get this report by going online, then it is free for INMA members, and available for a fee for others.

The report offers valuable and timely information, and it profiles three Scandinavian media companies that have a proven record of success: Dagens Nyheter (Sweden), Aftenposten (Norway) and Amedia (regional Norway).

Take a look at the information highlights for each from the INMA study:

The highlights

As I read the qualities that have made these titles gain and retain digital subscribers, I read a series of topics that I remember as guaranteeing success in another era as well: think evoking emotions, gravitating toward more dialog-based relationship with readers, trying new areas of journalism for specific users, producing content that guides the reader, more opinion pieces, more investigative reports.

I remember that newspapers that thrived and became essential in the lives of their readers always went after these goals, too.

Six tips for digital storytelling (the video)

Evangelischer Presseverband für Bayern e.V.

My short article with “six tips for storytelling” is online (German only):

https://www.sonntagsblatt.de/artikel/digitalisierung/medien/mario-garcia-sechs-tipps-fuer-gutes-storytelling

The Interview is also online:

https://youtu.be/6K1qJoupORY

This week

Reporting this week from one of the most scenic spots in Germany, Lake Konstanz, where we wrap up the so called SHIFT project with the regional daily Sudkurier.

This is a digital strategy project and this week I will be conducting training sessions for all journalists in the team.

Will report on highlights during the week.