ReportIt: How a simple form helps develop reader relationships, trust and great journalism

A story tip form is so ingrained in one newsroom’s brand that it not only leads to great ideas — but great relationships

Most newsrooms provide some way for readers to contact them. KXAN has developed its ReportIt form into a brand that viewers trust and reach out to with story tips and ideas, which allow it to get the pulse of the community and discern and respond to patterns with in-depth and investigative coverage. This was especially apparent during the pandemic when a special version of this form led to thousands of story tips and hundreds of stories addressing the needs of the moment. This session is for newsrooms looking to build trust with their audiences. It showcases how thoughtful segmentation (by topic and recipient) and promotion of this simple form leads to excellent journalism that connects with an audience because it comes from them.

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