''Denik'' is the largest Czech broadsheet newspaper, with average sales of 330 copies. It has 750 professional journalists, but in fact, the army working for the newspaper is much larger...
In October 2006 the Reader-Reporter project was launched. Every 75 local branches of newspaper publishes one page containing articles and photographs by the readers. To make it possible each "Reader Page" is serviced by professional editor. Why?
Readers tend to provide very long texts. To make them printable one has to shorten and edit them. Editors not only edit, but also promote texts but also provide guidance for the authors. It happens that reader photos of stories appear on the first page of ''Denik''.
Bara Prochazkova several pieces of advice for those who would like to take similar course:
1. Do not let this become the forum about readers pets. That's why ''Denik'' organizes special workshops where basic journalist techniques or possible topics are discussed.
2. Readers resolve tend to weaken, if they receive little to none feedback.
3. How to keep readers interested? In ''Denik'' they are motivated by small gifts or cash prizes. Reader-reporter gets approximately 3,5 euros for one text. The most active may earn 100 euros a month.
4. Without promotion among the younger readers, these pages will be dominated by older people.