Editorial: Introducing a new way to join the discussion

Facebook has become one of the key ways we can quickly share news throughout the day and get a feel for what our readers think.

The world of newspapers and media is an ever-evolving one. Sometimes it's enough to make your head spin.

We all know it's no longer enough to put out a physical newspaper each day. Now people want instant news, which means we need to be equally focused on our digital offering.

Last night we quietly tried out our latest innovation - live broadcasts on Facebook - and we're quietly excited about it.

The Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page currently has almost 18,700 "likes".

Facebook has become one of the key ways we can quickly share news throughout the day and get a feel for what our readers think. For many, our Facebook posts are where they first find out what's happening in their city.

Last night our education reporter and online champion, Stephanie Arthur-Worsop, parked herself in front of a webcam and tried out the first of what we hope will be regular live broadcasts.

How it works is simple. You watch her talking live on Facebook and type questions and comments, which she can answer in real time.

The recording stays on our Facebook page's timeline, so those who missed it can still watch it at a later time.

In last night's short introduction, Stephanie gave a brief rundown of how we decide what goes in each day's paper and how we see our role in the community.

The response was immediate - that's the beauty of the digital world - and overwhelmingly positive.

In the first hour, more than 800 people viewed the seven-minute clip and many seemed just as excited as we were by the possibilities it threw up.

Those are endless and how we use this tool will be largely guided by our readers. It could be live interviews with guests, different reporters talking about their rounds, or even going live from a breaking news scene.

It's still early days, but it's a great example of how we are striving to connect with our Rotorua community in as many ways as possible.

So if you haven't done so already, go to Facebook and "like" Rotorua Daily Post to take part in the conversation. We'd love to see you there.