For many newspapers, covering the caucus or primary meant the creation of landing pages or a micro-site, blog(s) and possibly experimenting with sites/services such as Twitter or Facebook. Days of planning, reporting and writing went into your coverage, not to mention the involvement of staff from probably throughout your organization. So why let all that work go stale with only the occasional local or AP story to perk it up? And why allow all that new traffic that you garnered to just wander away?

Here are some ideas to keep your political engine chugging and your readers coming back for more:

• Identify and profile local convention delegates and super delegates. While your states selection process may not have begun yet, you can speak with people who have previously attended and identify those who are planning to apply. You can also provide an primer on the application process as it does differ from state to state.
• If you haven’t already, identify local political bloggers and create your own blog network. Consider aggregating all their feeds on your site, you can even divide it by party affiliation.
• Join the Publish2 Election News Network. As Scott Karp (Publish 2 founder) explains it, this would allow you to “post links to coverage in states that still have primaries upcoming and of course national coverage. This could be a great editorial supplement in states where there’s not much to report locally with the primary past.” And I couldn’t agree more.
• Keep an eye on the money. With candidates still vying for the Democratic and Republican party nominations, fund raising will continue in earnest. Use these sources to track who is donating in your coverage area:
  • Follow The Money
  • Open Secrets
  • Fundrace 2008
• Look at how the campaigns are spending money locally? Are they still running any ads, still planting political signs? What are they doing to keep supporters engaged?
• Invite local campaign coordinators to blog about their efforts. (Think you have a problem staying motivated!)
• Have any locals running as Third party candidates?
• Check out this widget set from MSNBC. Might be an easy way to dress-up your page and keep the data current.
• Offer a Google Maps mashup showing where the candidates are on a given day. Here’s one effort via Slate.

So those are a few from me, what are your thoughts? What stories and/or features are you thinking of doing? I think this is one of those areas where their is no reason to reinvent the wheel, so share your thoughts and ideas, by helping someone else you might just help yourself.

And since the year is just getting started, here’s was you can expect from me in 2008:

• I will continue writing at least 5 days a week.
• I will not use my blog simply for the dissemination of my del.icio.us feed.
• I will speak my mind and shed light on new ideas and issues, regardless of their popularity.
• I will attempt to outreach and connect with other bloggers who can inspire and motivate me.
• I will continue to embrace and evangelize on technologies that I feel can help the news industry.
• I will use Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit and dozens of other sites.
• I will experiment with new online technologies.
• I will keep exploring ways to disseminate my posts.
• I will have fun.

So what will you do in 2008?

For those of you who do like these types of features, I’ve compiled a list of those who have already published their packages for your pleasure and enjoyment:

24-hour news networks:
CNN – Year in Review 2007
MSNBC – 2007 Year in Review

Wire Services:
Reuters – The Year in Review 2007 (In addition, Reuters also has a great News Aptitude Test for the year.)
Associated Press – Top News Story

Magazines:
Time Magazine – 50 Top 10 Lists of 2007

Top 25 Newspapers
USATODAY – 2007 Year in Pictures
Wall Street Journal – 2007: The Year in Business
Los Angeles Times – Best of 2007: Most popular stories
Washington Post – Best of the Post 2007
Chicago Tribune – ‘Year in Review’ Quiz
Houston Chronicle – Modern History: What was the top local story of 2007
Newsday – Vote for the best Newsday 2007 Cover
Arizona Republic – Photos of the Year
Dallas Morning News – 2007 Year in Review
San Francisco Chronicle – Help us pick the top 10 Bay Area stories
Orange County Register – Best and worst of entertainment in 2007

Others worth checking out:
The Buffalo News – Cast your vote for the top local news story of 2007
Providence Journal – 2007 Photographer’s Picks
Stockton Record – Vote for your favorite stories of the year

I was a bit surprised that fewer then half of the top 25 newspapers in the country had published their year in review or best of packages. If you’re one of those papers and have published your package and are not on the list, are you sure your pimping it on your home page?

If you have a year in review or best of package you’re happy with or enjoyed reading, why not share it below?

This treatment by media organizations, at least in my area, seems to signal a complacency with AIDS that is dangerous because of the message that action can send. I can recall a time, not that long ago, when World AIDS Day was treated less like a live event (with coverage relegated to the day after) and more as an urgent, almost dire, opportunity. Newspapers used their position in the community to write about the risks of HIV/AIDS, current research and the need for funding to cover drug costs and/or research. Editorial page writers authored moving and passionate pieces about need for action and support.

If it seems like I’m wagging my finger while writing this post, I am. Shame, shame, shame on your newspaper editors and reporters. Even with declines in revenue and advertising, newspapers continue to play an important role in society. They are still a trusted and respected source and they still have a role to play in shaping public opinion and political will. AIDS and all the people it impacts remain an issue that needs the full attention of our industry. AIDS has not become an issue that can be, nor does it deserve to be, relegated to past tense or to an inside page.

The New York Times package included two stories and a slide show.

For coverage from across the Hudson River, check out the The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), who also included a photo gallery.

The Philadelphia Inquirer chose to wrap an Associated Press story into their local coverage.

Over at SouthCoastToday.com, they’re chose to add video coverage to their package.

Down in South Jersey, The Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ) chose to limit their coverage to an Associated Press story.

The Arizona Republic’s team coverage included video, photo gallery, a blog and a links to local businesses.

Did you see any coverage that was innovative or different?

While we lacked the video and audio tools available in most newsrooms today, she was able to write a compelling story about the club-like atmosphere where mothers, girlfriends and college students huddled together on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. And together with some photos, it was the centerpiece of our Saturday newspaper.

I can only imagine what that coverage would have looked like if we were doing it today.

Between text messaging, video, audio slide shows, mapping mashups, user generated content this type of coverage has no bounds.

So what did your news organization do for Black Friday coverage? Share your efforts and successes.

Your local food pantry appreciates your help now, but even more importantly, during the rest of the year when they’re not the center of attention. And community non-profits that help the elderly, families in crisis and the poor would welcome your donations and attention throughout the year – especially during the summer.

So watch the reports and read the stories, learn about those in need in your own communities and remember that they are still there when the turkey is gone and the tree has been put away and the holidays are just a memory.