Ten steps to connecting with a community

Here are ten key tips:

1.     It is not your role to cover your community. It is your role to cover what your community can’t get elsewhere.

2.     Be a user guide. What can community members go and do? Avoid telling us what they missed.

3.     Be a community cheerleader. Show us a local kid from your community who did great. Did a local kid from a neighboring community do something even greater? Lovely, but the words “who” and “cares” come to mind.

4.     Surprise them. Give them water cooler talk. "OMG, did you hear what happened?"

5.     Help them feel smarter/informed. "Did you hear why it happened?"

6.     Make them laugh. Humor creates a connection between you and your audience.

7.     Names and faces. Show them people they know and people from the community they could meet or have a connection with.

8.     Ordinary people. Show us regular folks, not just “important” ones.

9.    Make them smile. Create some aww. Dogs, cats, kids, and all three marrying one another in pretend ceremonies in backyards and on street corners – this is the way.

10.  Be kind. No, really.

11.  Bonus! Number 11! Never say “filler.” This word is the enemy. Avoid “filling” your news product. Do straight-up journalism that your community needs or see above and do 1-10.