When most people think about breaking news, they picture a reporter rushing to the scene with a camera. In reality, that's usually not how it begins.
More often than not, someone else sees it first. A salesperson notices a fire while driving to a client meeting. An on-air personality passes a traffic accident on the way to the station. A promotions director spots storm damage after an event. They were never assigned to cover the story. They simply happened to be there before anyone else.
For years, those moments have usually ended the same way. Maybe they take a picture and text it to someone. Maybe they email it later. Maybe they get busy and forget altogether. By the time the newsroom hears about the event, the opportunity to use that original image has already passed.
What if it didn't have to?
Imagine every member of your staff having a simple way to contribute to the newsroom without changing what they do every day. They aren't expected to become reporters. They don't need to write a story or edit photos. They simply capture the moment, send it to the website, and continue on with their day. By the time the newsroom begins writing the story, the image is already waiting in the WordPress Media Library.
That's one of the ideas behind CaptureRelay. It isn't about replacing reporters or photographers. It's about making it incredibly easy for anyone on your staff to help strengthen your local coverage when they happen to be in the right place at the right time.
The truth is, breaking news often starts long before the newsroom receives the first phone call. Sometimes it's already driving through your market. The question is whether you've made it easy for your staff to help when those moments happen.
More often than not, someone else sees it first. A salesperson notices a fire while driving to a client meeting. An on-air personality passes a traffic accident on the way to the station. A promotions director spots storm damage after an event. They were never assigned to cover the story. They simply happened to be there before anyone else.
For years, those moments have usually ended the same way. Maybe they take a picture and text it to someone. Maybe they email it later. Maybe they get busy and forget altogether. By the time the newsroom hears about the event, the opportunity to use that original image has already passed.
What if it didn't have to?
Imagine every member of your staff having a simple way to contribute to the newsroom without changing what they do every day. They aren't expected to become reporters. They don't need to write a story or edit photos. They simply capture the moment, send it to the website, and continue on with their day. By the time the newsroom begins writing the story, the image is already waiting in the WordPress Media Library.
That's one of the ideas behind CaptureRelay. It isn't about replacing reporters or photographers. It's about making it incredibly easy for anyone on your staff to help strengthen your local coverage when they happen to be in the right place at the right time.
The truth is, breaking news often starts long before the newsroom receives the first phone call. Sometimes it's already driving through your market. The question is whether you've made it easy for your staff to help when those moments happen.