Circle me on Google+Endorsements
“Jeff knows that the future requires media companies to completely rethink and rebuild their relationships with readers, so that — in a sense — they’re no longer merely readers, but participants in the process of creating journalism. Jeff will bring more ideas to the table in an hour than most people in journalism will in a day.”
- Jim Brady
“Jeff has the perfect blend of journalistic judgment and technical knowledge for a digital journalist. … I always presumed Jeff could do something unless he proved me wrong. He never proved me wrong.”
- Steve Buttry
“Sonderman is one of the best signs that Poynter has accepted the realities of modern media. … He’s on top of social media trends and trying to justify the use of them in news organizations.”
- Zac Estrada
“If you’re looking to stay on top of digital media happenings, follow Jeff. Great content and solid sharing of stuff that he’s reading.”
- Jeff Sherman
Results
“Jeff told us some amazing ways to find information and leads on stories.”
- Heather Sammons
“I felt very confident that reporters, editors, others in the newsroom and I could tackle any challenge – no matter how big or small. … Jeff shined some light on building relationships with our community through social media engagement, SEO, website monetization and user-generated content. The two-day event was beyond useful.”
- Tricia Fulks
“Never knew about some of these Twitter search tools. Mind blown.”
- Julie Sickel
I help news companies train staff and plan digital strategies.
My specialties include social media, mobile news platforms, audience-collaborative journalism, digital business models and managing change, informed by a diverse career background in online news with newspapers, TV stations and now my current position as digital media fellow at The Poynter Institute.
Please email me at jeff (at) jeffsonderman.com and we can discuss a solution that works for you. I am happy to tailor a program to your unique needs and budget.
To stimulate your imagination, here are some examples of subjects we could address in workshops or consultation sessions:
- Collaborate with your community for better news. News organizations are now surrounded by communities of bloggers, amateur journalists and social media users. Instead of viewing this as competition, learn how to collaborate with these new players for a more complete and profitable news product than you could ever produce on your own.
- Social media for news: The basics. I can help your organization and your reporters understand social media, get started in networking, craft social media guidelines, and explore any other topics.
- Social media for news: The next level. So you’re on Twitter and Facebook, and maybe you have appointed a social media editor in your newsroom. I can help you take the next steps to transform your news product into a dynamic ongoing process, to implement tools for tracking and managing your social media presence, and to extend participation across your staff. Learn how to reach new audiences, interact with your readers, find news tips and sources, and more.
- Mobile news. Learn about the rush of your audience to mobile platforms, and how to serve them there most effectively. Just as the internet requires a different product and strategy than offline media, mobile products should adapt to the new medium. Get ahead of the next big industry trend and learn how to succeed as mobile audiences explode in the near future.
- Principles of digital strategy. Online news is fundamentally different from its print or broadcast heritage. Too many media organizations are stuck continuing the same offline news practices in this different ecosystem, or failing to take advantage of the online medium. I can help you understand the new rules and dynamics you need to master.
