Press Association

Alan Marshall of PA says 'Our blogs using ScribbleLive’s technology have proved very successful with our digital customer base, attracting large audiences'

Credit: Martin Keene/PA

The Press Association has announced it is to start offering customisable liveblogs to publishers as part of its standard newswire service, in a move aimed particularly at regional newspaper websites.

The free addition to the wire service – in partnership with live blogging platform ScribbleLive – makes it possible for publishers to either use PA's live blogs on their site or launch their own, with free training and support provided by the agency.

The initiative aims to help publishers test the audience appetite for live content and build online audiences ahead of major events this summer such as the Olympics and the diamond jubilee celebrations.

It is the first time that PA is offering its liveblogs – which it has been running for the past two years – to all customers as part of the standard newswire subscription service.

Publishers will have access to liveblogs around major national news events, which can be tailored for a local audience by adding additional entries, images, videos or user comments.

The agency is also offering training and support to wire users on how to launch their own liveblogs, with free access to the ScribbleLive platform included in the standard newswire package.

PA group managing editor Alan Marshall said in a release: "We are constantly exploring innovative ways of newsgathering and live blogging is now a major component of PA's coverage.

"Our blogs using ScribbleLive’s technology have proved very successful with our digital customer base, attracting large audiences, and we are now opening these up to our wire customers.
 
"There is a great opportunity here, particularly for the regional press, to attract web traffic, build new audiences and develop their own live blogging methods.

"The beauty of these blogs is their flexibility to be tailored with local angles around major national news stories, and their ability to engage with readers in real-time.

"The Diamond Jubilee programme is the ideal time to test out liveblogging as it’s a huge national story with almost unlimited local angles.  We’re encouraging our wire customers to give it a go and see what they can achieve.”
 
ScribbleLive chief operating officer Mark Walker added: "We are excited to work with PA to deliver daily coverage of this national celebration as well as assisting more UK publishers to experience ScribbleLive.

"PA has been a leader in syndicating live content, and we hope this initiative will help its customers to explore creating their own liveblogs.

"The PA ScribbleLive account will come complete with administration tools and enough user seats and publishing capacity for initial forays into liveblogging.

"Our goal is to ensure that all PA wire subscribers have access to this great content and tool set and we look forward to working with PA to help make this vision a reality."

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