The Los Angeles Times has a great way to interact with readers who try their recipes. They solicit photos and reader feedback on the recipes through their website. The message on the recipe page reads:
Our recipes, your kitchen: If you try this or any other recipe from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen, we would like to know about it so we can showcase it on our food blog and occasionally in print. Upload pictures of the finished dish here.
Seems to me that there are other possibilities to get readers to contribute content. What about fan feedback (of course, this must be moderated) for movies that have been reviewed in the newspaper or online? Music?
I like the recipe idea. They could create a Pinterest board (I know, I’m obsessed) of recipes to test and then a board where they post the reader tested recipes and photos they receive. I’d make sure to include a description on both boards letting readers know exactly what to expect and where and to encourage conversation in the comments of the pins. Looks like they already have numerous recipe/food boards (which is perfect for Pinterest), but it would be great to see them interacting and building a community on the platform too, and this would be a perfect first try at doing that. Thanks for the post. Fun to brainstorm!
Why is it that people love to post photos of their food? I know I do it a lot on Facebook. Seems like a natural for newspaper food sections to take advantage of this natural desire for expression.