Hi! My name is Mary Willson, and I’m a multimedia journalist working at the intersection of community + technology. I am currently the engagement editor for a hyper local daily digital publication in Asheville N.C., called AVLtoday. We engage with our readers to create community-focused content in a daily newsletter format. (Like a local Skimm). I was… Continue reading Meet Maryđź‘‹
Four examples of engagement-led journalism
As a full-time engagement editor, juggling daily publishing, social strategy and long-term projects, I find myself not participating in the smart, fast-paced conversations happening on Twitter. I follow along, but my social media cycle personally normally consists of scrolling Reddit at night at home, skimming popular Twitter hashtags and threads during the workday, and scrolling… Continue reading Four examples of engagement-led journalism
How to run a media Instagram account people actually want to follow
It's no secret. It's really not. There is a simple explanation on how I started the AVLtoday Instagram the second week of January 2018, and in early October, we hit 10K subscribers. That is without paying for likes or using bots. How? We post like we're people. Here's the conundrum – Media companies publish wonderful… Continue reading How to run a media Instagram account people actually want to follow
A guide to creating a master Q&A list for your readers
When thinking about reader engagement, it's easy to think in terms of clicks, time on site, or social media shares. But at the crux of it, it's all about being a resource to the community. Being originally from Colorado, when I moved to the South, I had *so* many questions. What is okra? Why are… Continue reading A guide to creating a master Q&A list for your readers
What happened when I created a podcast
... Absolutely nothing. Now, let's rewind. Anyone that knows me knows I'm a huge audio fan. I was first pulled in my This American Life in high school and since then, I've hit the podcast train hard. I listen to probably 5+ episodes a week, ranging from classics like Radio Lab, Moth Radio Hour, and… Continue reading What happened when I created a podcast
Mary Willson 