Ron Stitt

Did news publishers make a mistake in adopting “platforms” and specifically Facebook in a big way in the first place? I helped lead a major, prioritized Facebook push at a previous employer, and my answer is “no.” Drawing that conclusion is taking away the wrong lesson from the experience. Here’s why.

Ron Stitt argues that killing user commenting on publishers’ owned-and-operated sites is about the worst move they can make, as it sabotages one of their best means of engagement. That engagement has a big impact on KPIs like low bounce rates and extended time on site, he says.

Former Fox and ABC stations digital exec Ron Stitt lays out a modern vision for the local TV newsroom staffed by multi-tasking, highly productive staffers serving up much more relevant, engaging content (and a lot more of it). Getting there, however, involves completely refiguring budgets and personnel, plus the willingness to do so.

Former Fox digital exec Ron Stitt argues that broadcasters should without question embrace distributed content opportunities, both with major players like Facebook and via collaborative networks of other first-party publishers. Developing the right organizational support and workflows to manage the strategy is the key first step, he says.

Ron Stitt, group VP of digital media for Fox Television Stations, says local broadcasters are in a better position digitally now than they were three years ago thanks primarily to their mobile efforts. “Between the screen on the wall, the tablet in your lap and the phone in your hand, you have instant access to a screen at all times. That smartphone in your hand is about to become a television. That changes everything.” Stitt also talks about how TV is catching newspapers on the digital front, how paywalls could work for local TV and how user generated content is about to take a big leap forward.