Online Journalism

Week 4

A few things .... 

• Contact. Have you given me the best email address? How often do you check your Twitter accounts?

• Some of you have missed lessons, and missing important stages of the course. 

• carolinebeavon.com (Online Journalism page on left hand side) ... 

Posting online ... 

Some of the common mistakes:

• image too large• does the image have to go at the top / on the left?• paragraphs too long - one thought one paragraph• no headers / subheaders• too much bold (pick out key words, not entire paragraphs)• not enough use of lists / bullet points• not tagging  / categories• tone - professional  - save your feelings for your blog.

Maybe use s question, but word it carefully  - don't be biased

Today you will need an Audioboo account

Audioboo.fm

It is a site that lets you upload and embed audio for free

Midlands Media News

it is an INDUSTRY website about the businesses in your particular field

It is NOT:

• a review site for events (unless it's an industry event)• a space for you to criticize the industry (this is

unprofessional)

Midlands Media News

Sections

Today I'll decide on a Section Editor and Deputy Editor

It is YOUR responsibility to make sure content is being put up on the site regularly 

Share stories so they are all being covered

TALK TO EACH OTHER

Midlands Media News

All posts go through me

When you are ready for the post to be edited by me, click (publish - pending review) and drop me an email  - caroline.beavon@gmail.com

I will send you feedback as soon as you can if it needs tweaking

Now do something

• Create an account on Flickr• Explore Flickr in different ways – most popular; map;

clusters; groups; licences (advanced search)• For your story, find an image using Flickr• Write an ALT tag and embed it with your article.• Crop, resize, optimise it and upload it with a credit to the

original.• Contact the photographer to ask for permission to use

their image. Find out the story behind it and begin a dialogue – they may generate leads, tips, visitors etc.

Plan a UGC strategy

• Identify the People you expect to be working with on a particular story, issue or event

• List your objectives: what do you hope to achieve? Leads? Expertise? Raw footage? Distribution?

• List their objectives: what do they need? How can you help them?

• Where is there overlap between your objectives and theirs?

• Now draw up a strategy for achieving those mutual objectives - what do you need to prepare? And then do?

• Finally, what technology should you use for all of the above? What do the people use?

News story ideas

• Ask people 'What's new?'• Local angle on broader topical issue, e.g. budget cuts• Phone round organisations• Event previews, reports, reaction• Check/debunk rumours, etc.

Directed study (5 hours)

• Use your sources to go out and write another news piece

• This time link to or upload an image to go with it. • Read the reading• Keep blogging, twittering and bookmarking!