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"In TV news lingo, the cover photo is the lead story. And in the competitive world of journalism, newsrooms are all vying for the best lead. I tell my newsroom clients to think of it as the cold open. You have a short amount of time to get people hooked and wanting more. For news organizations, it\u2019s a special challenge. Facebook is more than a publicity or customer service platform. For them, it\u2019s part of the job. Journalists use social media to gather news content and find sources. And step one is building a large and active fan base.\nHere are a few trends we\u2019re seeing as newsrooms use their cover photos to tease viewers into becoming fans. What are some other trends you\u2019re seeing with cover photos on news organizations\u2019 brand Timelines? Which approach do you think works best? Let us know in the comments.\n\n\n5 Styles of TV Newsroom Cover Photos\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. The Mount Rushmore\nGuess what -- Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln weren\u2019t standing next to each other posing for the sculptors at Mount Rushmore. It\u2019s why their heads are sort of floating in space (that, and the whole carved into a mountain thing). Despite the slightly-awkward composition, this style seems to be a very popular newsroom cover photo option.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. The Mount Rushmore\nCertainly, it\u2019s a great idea to include real people in your newsroom\u2019s cover photo, especially the on-air talent -- the face of the brand. But watch that your photo doesn\u2019t seem too rehearsed or cut-and-paste. In these cases, you stand to forfeit any authenticity you gained by showcasing a personality. And watch your headroom. Some browsers force a slight scroll on the Cover Photo, resulting in accidental decapitation.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. The Billboard\nAs most of you know by now, Facebook has strict rules about what can and can\u2019t be in the Cover Photo. It seems that Facebook\u2019s intention with these rules is to push brands into being creative rather than simply uploading a giant version of their logo. Nonetheless, many newsrooms are choosing to take the direct approach.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. The Billboard\nOn one hand, it\u2019s an effective, direct representation of the brand. It\u2019s clear and obvious to any user that they\u2019re in the right place. But certainly, these static graphics lack some personality and tend to feel like advertisements.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. The Tourist\nWhen you\u2019re on vacation, there\u2019s a photo-op around every corner. Tourists tend to appreciate the view much more than the locals who trudge by these landscapes daily. Knowing this, many newsrooms are using the cover photo as a way to reconnect their fans with the beautiful surroundings they so often ignore.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. The Tourist\nShowcasing cityscapes can convey a strong connection between the news organization and the community it\u2019s committed to covering, especially if the cover photo is of a landmark. Keep in mind, though, the image can feel disconnected or even random if the landscape isn\u2019t recognizable.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. The VIP\n\nProbably my personal favorite (who doesn\u2019t want to be VIP?), this behind-the-scenes approach to selecting a cover photo resonates well with fans who expect a more personal experience on Facebook. Many newsrooms have opted to showcase their talent in action as a way of rolling out the red carpet for fans who want to be treated like they\u2019re part of the inner circle.\nThis gives fans a unique perspective on the news, an angle they don\u2019t normally see. It features the face of the brand (the on-air talent) but in a new way. And it can become an extension of news coverage by showcasing a photo of a reporter \u201Con the scene\u201D covering a recognizable news event. This style also offers the most opportunity to be friendly or even playful with your fans by showing off a reporter\u2019s candid moments.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. The Technology Tour\nTV stations have a lot of fun toys: choppers, live trucks, robotic cameras and control rooms to rival NASA. So it\u2019s no surprise to see newsrooms showing off their technology using the cover photo.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. The Technology Tour\nViewers are impressed by technology. I\u2019ve never seen a newsroom research study say otherwise. And tech-centric cover photos stand to impress fans with the razzle-dazzle of today\u2019s latest gadget. It\u2019s a great way to highlight the great lengths (or heights) news organizations go to for news coverage. But beware; these images lack a certain personal touch that fans desire.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/03/22/tv-newsroom-cover-photos/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29>