Monday, February 8, 2010

How to Personalize with 'MyNews'

What is 'MyNews?'

'MyNews' allows you to get the most out of your StateNewslines experience by providing a custom page that displays only the news sources you want to see. You can find the MyNews tab over on the far left side of your state's site (it's the only tab with the yellow font color). If you're a registered user, you've probably even been on the page before-- it's where we take you when you first log in.

Behold the mighty MyNews tab!

So you may be asking "what's the big deal with MyNews?" or "why should I care, I just want the news!" Well, having every state news source on a single page is pretty awesome, but let's say you just want to follow 5 to 10 sources, and they are all far apart on the page. This is where MyNews comes in.

Add or Remove Sources From Anywhere

As you browse around your StateNewslines page, you'll notice that each source has a green plus icon beside it. Clicking that icon will then mark that source as a favorite, and it will now appear on your MyNews page. You can put one or two sources on your MyNews page, or you can put thirty or more. It's all up to you.

Add or remove sources with the plus icon.

Tired of seeing a source on your MyNews page? Then just click that green plus icon again and it will no longer appear on your customized page. It's quick and easy to add or subtract sources from your MyNews page.

A populated MyNews page is a happy MyNews page.

Best of all, the MyNews page isn't just restricted to the news in your state. Visit the page for any state, log in, and you'll be able to add those sources to your MyNews page as well. If you wish to do so, you can assemble a MyNews page with headlines from publications across the entire country!

Summary of key points (aka, the short version):
  • "MyNews" is your customized news page
  • Add or remove sources to your MyNews page by clicking the green plus icon beside source names
  • See just your preferred news sources, be happy
  • Come back to "MyNews" daily, stay current, save time
One final note-- you must be registered and logged in to use the MyNews feature. If we don't know who you are, then we can't keep track of what news sources you want to see! Remember, registration is quick and free.

Now get out there and read YOUR news!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Serious Business

We just added a bunch of prominent business publications to the site. Here are the new additions:
  • Business Week
  • CNNMoney
  • Fast Company
  • Forbes
  • Fortune
  • The Economist
  • Inc. Magazine
You can find all of the latest headlines from these publications on the "National Headlines" tab of all StateNewslines sites. You can add any of these publications to your personal "My News" page by clicking the green plus icon beside the source name.

Enjoy!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

StateNewslines iPhone App Coming Soon!

That's right. Soon you'll be able to get all of your daily state and local headlines without being tethered to your desk! Get excited.

Here's a taste.


Expect to see this thing soon. We'll be bringing you much more on our iPhone app once it makes it through the rigors of the Apple approval gauntlet and hits the App Store in the near future.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

New Site Features Live, We Want Your Feedback!

We hope your year is off to a great start! To kick off 2010 we're rolling out some new features we think you'll enjoy. The changes are going online these next few days, so bear with us as we iron out any kinks.

It's Your News. Make it Personal.

The first major upgrade is the creation of the new 'My News' page, allowing you to much more easily select and personalize the news sources that you want to read each day. You can add or remove sources from your My News page with a single click on the green plus icon beside each source anywhere on the StateNewslines sites.


Politically Correct

Secondly, we're adding much deeper coverage of state political news with an all new politics section. Just click the politics tab on your StateNewslines site and you'll be able to see press releases and clippings for elected officials in your state. You can also add these to your personal My News page.


Just Log In to Enjoy

Many of the new features will need you to login to the site. Just click the login link at the top right of the page (www.statenewslines.com). If you've forgotten your password, there's a link to recover, or you can register again to set up a new profile.


Tell Us What You Think!

We love your feedback. It's essential for us in creating a time-saving, daily news destination that you love to visit. We welcome all feedback, just click the feedback link and share any thoughts, concerns, problems, or suggestions you may have.


All the best,
The StateNewslines team

Friday, December 18, 2009

The Most Time-Shifted Shows of the Fall Season

The Most Time-Shifted Shows of the Fall Season
(via Advertising Age)

"NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The ability to delay viewing of TV shows by using a digital video recorder is giving rise to noticeably different habits, according to new research from Horizon Media.

Through November 2009, 11 fall season programs were regularly "time-shifted," or watched as many as seven days after the date of original air, by more than 3 million viewers, said Brad Adgate, the independent media-buying firm's senior VP-research. Last year at this time, only three programs -- ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," Fox's "House" and CBS's "CSI" -- fit that bill."


No Dr. House, it isn't Lupus-- you're the most time-shifted show on TV.

Robert's Ramblings:
I've been wondering about how the rise of DVR has affected advertisers looking to keep their pitch timely and relevant. A lot of people I know who use DVR simply skip the commercial breaks entirely. In light of this study, an analysis of the most popular programs that aren't heavily time-shifted would be a great study to see next.

- Robert Oberlander, New Media Marketing Manager, www.StateNewslines.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Social Network Timeline

A Social Networking Timeline
(via Yahoo News)

"Milestones in social networking over the past decade:2002 — Friendster launches and becomes a social networking force until MySpace and the more buttoned-up LinkedIn hit the scene in 2003 and slowly gain more traction."

Robert's Ramblings: Wow, I had no idea Friendster was even still around. It turns out that 90% of Friendster's traffic comes from Asia. That's pretty impressive. Anyways, it's pretty neat to look back on just how quickly this social media thing exploded. I remember being on Facebook back when it was for college students only. Now everyone and their grandmother-- literally-- has a Facebook account.

- Robert Oberlander, New Media Marketing Manager, www.StateNewslines.com

Monday, December 14, 2009

For Those Keeping Tally: 275 Magazines Launch, 428 Fold in 09

275 Magazines Launch, 428 Fold in 09
(via MarketingCharts)

"The number of folded magazines far outnumbered new titles in 2009, according to statistics released by MediaFinder.com, which reported that the difficult economic year saw 275 new magazines launch and 428 cease publication."

Robert's Ramblings: There is no doubt that 2009 has been a hard year for print media, so I am surprised at how many new magazines were launched. It's refreshing to see such optimism in the midst of so many doomsayers shouting through megaphones. I salute your bravery, new magazine publications, and I hope you see great success in the coming year and beyond.

- Robert Oberlander, New Media Marketing Manager, www.StateNewslines.com


WSJ.com Shutting Out Google is Risky Business

If the WSJ.com Says Goodbye to Google, it Will Also Say Goodbye to 25 Percent of Its Traffic
(via TechCrunch)


"About 44 percent of visitors to the WSJ.com are new to the site, so Google is doing a good job of introducing new readers to the WSJ. But Murdoch clearly would rather have loyal readers than those delivered by search engines. Or at least that is his story, and he is sticking to it. Never mind that in order to get people to pay for content, they first have to be able to find it."

Robert's Ramblings: I can understand all of the pressure that must be on Murdoch and many others to find new ways for monetization in the changing media climate, but turning your back on Google sounds like the wrong approach to me. I mean... it's GOOGLE. Don't they basically own the Internet at this point? While I'm sure that a number of people would buy into Murdoch's idea, there is a lot of content out there, and if readers can find it somewhere else for free, they are not going to pay for it.

- Robert Oberlander, New Media Manager, www.StateNewslines.com

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

AP asks Facebook users to stop playing Farmville, vote on top stories of 09

AP asks Facebook users to vote on top stories of 09
(via Daily Mail)

"Voting for the top news stories ends Dec. 17. This year's choices include the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the death of Michael Jackson and the state of the U.S. economy. Users can also submit suggestions for a top story."

Roberts Ramblings: The fine folks at the Associated Press, in showing their newfound love for all things social media, have decided to let the Facebook hive in on their yearly top stories survey. This marks the first time in the survey's 70+ year history that the public has been invited to participate. Status update: Voting for the top news stories of the year! YAY! LOL

- Robert Oberlander, New Media Marketing Manager, www.StateNewslines.com

Major Magazine Publishers Are Coming to a Mobile Platform Near You

Major Magazine Publishers Coming to iPhone, Blackberry
(via CIO.com)

 
"More than 50 magazines including The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Time, People, Sports Illustrated, Esquire and O, The Oprah Magazine are likely to be available digitally according to New York Observer."

Robert's Ramblings:  Tired of fumbling around with that bulky copy of The New Yorker, in the process dropping your stuff on the ground and spilling coffee on your button-down oxford? Well, your hopes and dreams have been answered-- major magazine publishers are preparing to shrink their content down and go digital, so you can enjoy their stories on-the-go in delicious bite-size form.

- Robert Oberlander, New Media Marketing Manager, www.StateNewslines.com