Responding to audience

During today's session at the Newseum, Mark Briggs, assistant managing editor-interactive at The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., shed light on a concept I never considered when thinking about how to produce a successful publication: getting responses from readers. Briggs talked about having areas on publication Web sites that ask readers for their input or allow them to discuss their thoughts freely. I also learned that through this "exercise," story ideas can be developed. This is something my school newspaper, The Famuan, should adopt next year because we've had many newsroom discussions about what readers wants.