Over 300 million active usersOver 300 million active users

50% log on at least once a day50% log on at least once a day

Fastest-growing demo is 35+Fastest-growing demo is 35+

45 million status updates a day45 million status updates a day

Average time spent: 4.5 hoursAverage time spent: 4.5 hours

Facebook: A few numbers

a powerful source of a powerful source of information and potential information and potential interviews/infointerviews/info

word-of-mouth marketing for word-of-mouth marketing for our journalism and ourselvesour journalism and ourselves

Two opportunities for us:

Accused killer Raymond Clark III

• information and potential sources information and potential sources for our stories – interested or for our stories – interested or involved parties for interviews, involved parties for interviews, photos of crime suspectsphotos of crime suspects

Check with your editor before using a Check with your editor before using a photo – law is still unclear on privacy photo – law is still unclear on privacy etc. but if the subject is involved in a etc. but if the subject is involved in a news event, it is likely OK, provided news event, it is likely OK, provided

we credit Facebook for the photowe credit Facebook for the photo

Facebook young drivers' group: four days, almost 100,000 members – each one a potential interview, source, etc.

A word of warning: Joining a Facebook group takes a single click – not a great indicator of

deep-seated beliefs about anything, just another data point

"Hello, message board full of grieving teens. My name is so and so, from news organization X. Would any of you here like to share any poorly punctuated memories of that kid who drowned/got shot/died suddenly during a

sporting event? MSG me!"

Be careful of:

word-of-mouth marketing for word-of-mouth marketing for our journalism and for our journalism and for ourselvesourselves

Referrals: 3.5 million in Referrals: 3.5 million in SeptemberSeptember

Increase of 190% from JuneIncrease of 190% from June

Up 500% from JanuaryUp 500% from January

15% of comments now from FB15% of comments now from FB

Important: verified identityImportant: verified identity

Facebook and Huffington Post:

The principle is simple: Instead of The principle is simple: Instead of requiring people to come to us, requiring people to come to us,

reach them with our content reach them with our content wherever they are, and connect wherever they are, and connect

that to our sitethat to our site