The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

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What makes for a successful online news site? Online Media Awards judges give us their verdicts

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

March 23, 2012 | 4 min read

Before the Online Media Awards close for entries at midnight tonight, The Drum caught up with CNN's Nick Wrenn and former People editor Bill Hagerty to get a sense of what they will be looking for when they judge this year's awards.

Nick Wrenn, the editorial leader of CNN’s digital platforms outside the U.S., managing teams in London, Hong Kong, Atlanta and Dubai

Why have you agreed to join the Online Media Awards judging panel?

I am thrilled to join the Online Media Awards judging panel because it is a great opportunity to see the best news coverage online and to promote and honour terrific digital journalism.

What makes a successful online news site?

Knowing and respecting your audience and being prepared to have a two-way discussion with them. Additionally, presenting news in a distinctive way that uses the media of the Internet to surprise and delight.

Paywalls or not? What is the best way to make online journalism commercially viable?

In my opinion, this is a decision that needs to be made by each individual organization.

In the hunt for online readers, news websites may put emphasis on keywords and search engine optimisation. Is there a danger that these practices could devalue the quality of journalism?

I believe that potentially the opposite is true. If done right, the audience will find that it much easier to find what they're looking for.

Will there always be a place for the printed news product?

Definitely, they just need to be able to move with the times and accept that people will already know what happened yesterday.

Bill Hagerty, former editor of The People

Why have you agreed to join the Online Media Awards judging panel?

Because, sooner or later, online publishing is the future of journalism.

What makes a successful online news site?

Originality.

Paywalls or not? What is the best way to make online journalism commercially viable?

If I knew that I would be very rich, but although paywalls can work in certain areas - mostly niche - they obviously are not the overall answer to making online journalism pay.

Advertising will eventually pour into the best sites and ancillary activity (from online selling to events etc) will contribute to revenues.

In the hunt for online readers, news websites may put emphasis on keywords and search engine optimisation. Is there a danger that these practices could devalue the quality of journalism?

Yes and journalists must constantly be aware of this.

Will there always be a place for the printed news product?

Always, almost certainly not. But for many years ahead there will be a place for print - witness the success of Private Eye and The Oldie Magazine, both of which have rising circulations and a limited web presence.

Supported by the Society of Editors, Press Association, NUJ and Hold the Front Page, the awards will recognise the best talent and technology in online journalism.

Media owners, publishers and editors can submit their entries until midnight tonight (23 March) at www.onlinemediaawards.net.

For further information and to register for the awards go to www.onlinemediaawards.net or contact Katy Thomson at katy.thomson@carnyx.com

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