advanced twitter for journos
DESCRIPTION
These are my slides for a workshop on advanced Twitter techniques for journalists, presented Oct. 6, 2011, for the New Haven Register.TRANSCRIPT
Resources to help journo tweeps• “Twitter tips for journalists” & a listing of
Twitter resources for journos on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• “Breaking news” and “Twitter” categories on my blog
• These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• Zombiejournalism.com
What’s your social media strategy?
Twitter techniquesNews coverage:•Advanced search•Hashtags•Vetting & verifying•Live-tweeting•Crowdsourcing•Curating
Engagement: •Building a following•Being conversational
Bookmark this tool
Advanced Twitter Searchhttps://twitter.com/#!/search-advanced
Why use hashtags?• Find other sources• Expand your audience• Organize content (for feeds &
contacting)
Hashtag tips• Search for hashtag(s) already in use • If a hashtag is already in use, adopt it• If not, choose one that’s simple & unique
(do quick search first)• Geographic abbreviation helps (#ctirene)• Geographic better than branded
(#ctpolitics better than #nhrpolitics)
Possible routine local hashtags
#ctnews#ctbreakingnews#ctsports#ctpreps#uconnsports#uconn#uconnbasketball
#ctstorm#ctweather#yalenews#ctgovnews#nhnews#newhavenct#branfordct (etc.)
Vetting & verifying• Track back RTs, etc.
to source • Look for clusters • Location enabled? • Evaluate the
network• Evaluate the history
• Links, photos? • Take it old school• Disclose, hedge,
repeat • Be brave only in
correction
Tips from Craig Silverman, Regret the Error
Evaluating tweeps• How long have they been tweeting?• Check previous tweets, interaction• Check bio, links• Check Klout score• Google name and scam, spammer• Contact & interview
Tips from Mandy Jenkins, Zombie Journalism
Say what you don’t know
Live-tweeting prep• Get names (confirm spelling), titles in
advance (ask, get program, etc.)• Set scene, saying what you’re covering &
that you’re live-tweeting• Describe your circumstances, vantage
point: at event, watching on TV, curating tweets (Andy Carvin)
Live-tweeting tips• Don’t transcribe; observe & report• In sports, mix play-by-play & commentary• Use hashtag (& check to respond)• OK to pause for checking facts, names• Note significant pause (halftime, lunch)• Fun interludes, exchanges, anecdotes• Check facts before you hit “tweet”
Live-tweeting situations• Trials• Meetings• Sporting events (curate w/ public tweets:
Friday Night Tweets)• Festivals• Breaking stories• Remember to feed live-tweets into site
Why crowdsource?• It saves time• Connecting with sources has always been
one of a journalist’s most important jobs• You bring more voices to your news
reports• You engage the community
Set the stage• Build engaged community (follow
people, converse with them)• Use multiple platforms (Twitter,
Facebook, website, blog, newspaper, IRL)• Do the groundwork (don’t expect the
public to do your job; invite them to tell their stories)
Crowdsourcing tips• Say what you know• Say what you want to know• Say what you don’t know• Say what you need to know• Don’t spread rumors• Vet sources & information
Throughout the process• Seek story ideas & tips• Ask questions as you gather info• Share data with community• Ask public to continue the conversation• Sometimes crowd will be quiet; don’t get
discouraged
Crowdsource
Crowdsource
NPR’s Andy Carvin
“I think curation has always been a part of journalism; we just didn't call it that.” – quoted in The Atlantic by Phoebe Connelly
What is curation?Museum curator:•Studies topic•Chooses relevant content (other sources & museum collection)•Authenticates•Groups related items•Provides context•Presents exhibit
Journalism curator:•Studies topic•Chooses relevant content (social media, blogs, staff)•Authenticates•Groups related items•Provides context•Presents collected content
Routine beat coverage• Follow officials & agencies on beat• Twitter Search (advanced)• Hashtags (regular & spontaneous)• Lists (Twitter, TweetDeck, HootSuite)• Breaking news• Crowdsourcing• Liveblog (feeding in tweets)
Connecting w/ community• Use Advanced Twitter Search or Nearby
Tweets to find & check local tweeps• Search terms & location to find people
tweeting about your beat• Check followers of @nhregister• See who tweeps are conversing with• Who follows agencies, people on beat?
Twitter’s a conversation• Post links w/ comment or question, not
headline• Post other links, not just yours• Show your personality (you can do it w/o
opinion)• Give more than you ask for• Please and thank you
Converse w/ public
People to follow
• Look for sources (find people)• Ask sources• Journalists in other communities• When someone follows you, check out to
see whether you should follow back• When you follow someone, check whom
they follow• Tweeps mentioned in interesting tweets
Resources to help journo tweeps• “Twitter tips for journalists” & a listing of
Twitter resources for journos on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• “Breaking news” and “Twitter” categories on my blog
• These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• Zombiejournalism.com