Data can transform editorial decisions. But only if you know how to use it.
Tagtaly provides raw intelligence: what stories are surging, which topics are trending, where sentiment is shifting. But converting this data into better editorial decisions requires workflows, processes, and team alignment.
This guide walks through practical strategies for integrating Tagtaly into your newsroom—from morning briefings to editorial meetings to deadline decisions.
The Daily Newsroom Workflow
Morning Briefing (7-8 AM): Strategic Context
What to look for:
- Overnight surges: Which topics gained volume while your team slept?
- Sentiment shifts: Did any category swing dramatically negative or positive?
- Virality scoreboard: Which stories have 15+ virality score?
Action: Screenshot dashboard, bookmark high-virality stories for team meeting.
Discussion items from Tagtaly:
- "Politics surged 180% overnight—what happened? Where are we on this story?"
- "Health sentiment dropped -0.6 points—what's driving negative coverage?"
- "Three stories hit 16-18 virality score—which ones do we own?"
- "Entertainment leads coverage distribution today—should we mirror or find contrarian angle?"
Outcome: Assign reporters to trending stories, decide on angles.
For each high-virality story:
- Check Tagtaly's live feed for original articles
- Note which outlets are leading coverage
- Identify gaps—what aren't others covering?
- Plan unique angle (original reporting, expert interview, data analysis)
Why this matters: Virality score tells you what's trending. Your angle determines whether you lead or follow.
Midday Check (12 PM): Tactical Adjustments
Quick questions:
- Did virality scores increase/decrease on morning stories?
- Any new stories breaking into top tier (virality 15+)?
- Sentiment changes—coverage getting more negative or positive?
- Volume trends—stories holding interest or dying off?
Decision: Increase/decrease resource commitment based on trend direction.
Afternoon Push (2-4 PM): Competing & Differentiating
Use Tagtaly's outlet tracking:
- BBC has 8 stories on Topic X, Guardian has 12—who's leading?
- Are different outlets taking different angles on same story?
- Where's the gap you can own?
Example: If BBC is running breaking news, Guardian is analyzing impacts, you could cover solutions/responses.
Evening Reflection (5-6 PM): Tomorrow's Planning
Analyze trajectory:
- Virality scores 8 AM → 12 PM → 4 PM: Rising, stable, or falling?
- Which stories likely to be 15+ by tomorrow morning?
- Any emerging stories worth covering tomorrow?
Outcome: Plan tomorrow's assignments today. Get reporters researching overnight.
Story Prioritization Framework
Not every story deserves equal coverage. Use this framework to allocate resources strategically:
The 2×2 Prioritization Matrix
| High Virality (15+) | Low Virality (0-14) | |
| High Importance | LEAD Assign multiple reporters. Full coverage. Major resources. | FEATURED Strategic coverage. Own unique angle. Promote proactively. |
| Low Importance | CURATE Light coverage. Aggregate others' reporting. Minimal resources. | MONITOR Watch for development. Cover if importance rises. |
How Tagtaly Data Maps to This Framework
- Virality Score = Right axis (High/Low Virality)
- Importance = Left axis (requires editorial judgment + beat knowledge)
Example decisions:
- Major policy change (high importance) + low virality: FEATURED. Don't wait for social media to discover it. Produce quality analysis and promote it.
- Celebrity scandal (low importance) + high virality: CURATE. Link others' reporting if your audience cares. Don't waste original reporting resources.
- Breaking news crisis (high importance + high virality): LEAD. All hands on deck.
Sentiment Analysis for Editorial Angles
Understanding Coverage Sentiment
Tagtaly tracks sentiment—is coverage positive, neutral, or negative? Use this to identify story angles:
What happened? Likely scandal, crisis, or failure. Angles:
- What went wrong? (investigation)
- Who's accountable? (accountability reporting)
- What happens next? (solutions/process)
Scenario 2: Health sentiment rises +0.6 (positive)
What happened? Likely breakthrough, success, or positive development. Angles:
- What's the achievement? (celebration/context)
- Why does this matter? (impact analysis)
- Who benefits? (human interest)
Scenario 3: Sentiment fluctuates within a topic
Multiple perspectives or developing story. Angles:
- Both/all sides (balanced coverage)
- Timeline (how did opinion shift?)
- Why the disagreement? (analysis)
Media Bias Detection: Finding Gaps
When outlets cover stories very differently, it signals either bias or different editorial priorities. Use this to find coverage gaps:
Interpretation: Sky and Guardian see this story as important; BBC doesn't prioritize it. What's the BBC missing? Or is BBC taking contrarian stance?
Your decision:
- If you agree with BBC: Light coverage
- If you agree with Sky/Guardian: In-depth coverage
- If unclear: Read all outlets, develop independent view
Building Your Tagtaly Habit
Week 1-2: Learning Phase
- Check dashboard every 2 hours
- Learn dashboard structure (7 sections)
- Understand sentiment, virality, volume metrics
- Sample-check accuracy: read articles that match data
Week 3-4: Integration Phase
- Use Tagtaly in editorial meetings daily
- Reference virality scores in assignment decisions
- Test sentimen analysis against your own assessment
- Track which scores prove most accurate
Week 5+: Mastery Phase
- Predict story trajectories (will this surge overnight?)
- Identify coverage gaps before competitors do
- Use data to inform editorial strategy
- Build competitive advantage through data discipline
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Pitfall 1: Chasing Virality Over Journalism
High virality doesn't always mean important. Don't abandon serious journalism to chase social media trends. Use virality as one input, not the only input.
Pitfall 2: Ignoring Low-Virality Stories
Important stories don't always go viral. Policy changes, regulatory decisions, expertise-driven coverage often have low virality but high value for serious readers. Don't abandon these.
Pitfall 3: Over-relying on Automated Sentiment
Sentiment analysis has limitations. Sarcasm, nuance, and context get lost. Always verify surprising sentiment results by reading actual articles.
Pitfall 4: Reactive-Only Coverage
Use Tagtaly to identify trends, but also to plan proactive coverage. Find stories before they spike virality. Beat the crowd.
Pitfall 5: One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Different newsrooms have different priorities. Political newsletter might focus on Politics/Lifestyle. Tech outlet might focus on Money/Entertainment. Customize your Tagtaly usage to your beat.
Key Behaviors for Newsroom Success
Best Practice #1: Check Tagtaly Before Meetings
5-10 minute review before editorial meetings gives you context. Speak from data, not assumptions.
Best Practice #2: Track Trends Over Time
Single data points don't matter. Track how virality scores, sentiment, and volume change over 3-6 hours. Trends reveal story arc.
Best Practice #3: Combine Tagtaly with Beat Knowledge
You know your beat. Tagtaly provides outside data. Together, you have 360° view. Use both.
Best Practice #4: Document Decisions
When Tagtaly drives a story decision, note it. Track success. Learn what signals predict actual outcomes.
Best Practice #5: Share Learning with Team
Not everyone reads data the same way. Share dashboards, discuss interpretations, build shared understanding.
Real-World Example: A Day in the Newsroom
Morning (7 AM): Dashboard shows Politics surge 190%, virality scores of multiple political stories: 16, 14, 12. Editorial meeting flags major political development. Assign 3 reporters to different angles.
Midday (12 PM): Virality scores still high but sentiment shifted from -0.4 to -0.7. Coverage getting more critical. Assign analyst to write "Why this matters" piece for afternoon publication.
Afternoon (3 PM): New angle emerges on Tagtaly live feed—interview with affected party. Assign 1 reporter to pursue original interview while others compile other outlets' coverage.
Evening (5 PM): Political coverage remains at 16+ virality but showing signs of decline. Plan tomorrow's angles: impact analysis, solutions/policy response, stakeholder reaction. Research overnight.
Result: Owned multiple major angles on story. Used data to allocate resources efficiently. Stayed ahead of social media curve while covering story responsibly.
Key Takeaways
- Check Tagtaly 3-4 times daily (7 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM)
- Use virality score for prioritization, not sole judgment
- Track trends over time (rising/stable/falling)
- Combine sentiment + virality + volume for complete picture
- Balance trending stories with important low-virality stories
- Use outlet disparities to identify coverage gaps
- Document decisions and track results
Next Steps
Ready to implement? Start here:
- How to Read the Dashboard — Master the interface
- Virality Score Explained — Understand what drives viral potential
- Understanding Sentiment — Use sentiment for angle ideas
- Live Dashboard — Start using Tagtaly today