In order to meet the instant deadlines of the Web, you need a reporter who can devote the energy and time it takes to get a story published quickly. In other instances, taking a print reporter's notes and writing from them is sufficient, and the print reporter has the time to assist the Web staff. The types of stories covered by the Web staff aren't that much different from what print-side reporters cover. This week, for instance, the Web breaking-news staff covered a story about sentencing in a gambling case at Northwestern University, with the emphasis on being first to publish the news. The story also ended up in the Web sports section, and of course in the newspaper the next day with much greater detail and more in-depth reporting.
Some stories lend themselves well to Web breaking-news coverage.
Last December's big Midwest snowstorm and the recent Amtrak crash were two stories that generated major traffic boosts for the Tribune from people looking for timely coverage. The site also has broken several stories, beating not only its parent newspaper but other local media as well. One recent example was when Chicago Bears president Mike McCaskey was removed from his position, and a Tribune sports reporter knew it in advance of a scheduled press conference. The Web site published the news in advance and scooped other local media. Of course, when the newspaper has an exclusive story where there is no threat of other media beating it to publication, it seldom lets the Web site break the story.