Harnessing Twitter for Enhanced Journalism: Best Practices and Tips
Discover how Twitter can transform your journalism practice through improved community engagement and newsroom culture. This resource outlines key strategies for using Twitter effectively, including tips for connecting with sources, locating eyewitnesses in breaking news situations, and promoting content. Learn about essential Twitter terminology, how to begin your Twitter journey, and what to tweet about to engage your audience. By leveraging social media, journalists can stay current, connect with their communities, and improve their storytelling capabilities.
Harnessing Twitter for Enhanced Journalism: Best Practices and Tips
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Presentation Transcript
Leaders for Newsroom @stevebuttry Gazette Communications Mid-America Press Institute Feb. 13, 2010 #mpichange
Resources to help journo tweeps • “Twitter tips for journalists” on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com • “Breaking news” and “Twitter”categories on my blog • These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at slideshare.net/stevebuttry • #mpichange
Why should you use Twitter? Let’s ask the tweeps
Why should you use Twitter? • It improves your journalism • It connects you with the community • It changes your newsroom culture • You can use it quickly • It shows that you are learning and changing, too
How Twitter helps journalists • Quickly locate eyewitnesses & participants in breaking news • Connect with sources, journalists • Monitor community discussion, get story ideas • Promote content • Write tight (no lead longer than a tweet)
How do I get started? • Open account • Be sure to fill in bio, location, picture • Decide how to use phone • Start Twittering • Follow some people
Twitter terminology • Tweet, an update (noun or verb), up to 140 characters • Tweeps, your followers • Retweet (RT), to pass on a link or thought (can be quote, paraphrase, starting point) • Tweetup, a physical gathering of tweeps
Mid-Am newsroom leaders @carolynwashburn (DM Register) @kgreenbaum (Waterloo Courier) @dennisedit (Lawrence Journal-World) @JoeHight (Oklahoman) @SCJMitchP (Sioux City Journal) @amestribeditor (Alexandra Hayne) @henryhoward (Lafayette Journal & Courier) @DaleAlison (Burlington Hawk Eye)
What should I tweet about? • Link to a new blog post, story, video, photo • Retweet (with a comment) a link from a colleague • Reply to someone from your community • Tweet an unfolding story • Tweet something insightful or funny
Linking with Twitter • Use compressed links: bit.ly, tinyurl.com, is.gd, tr.im, etc. • Write a headline or a comment; give tweeps a reason to click • Credit (RT or via) • Use Publish2
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
Tips from Nancy Newhoff • “Short quick sentences and get it sent. The whole idea is to be an instantaneous as possible.” • “Hit send and then start typing right away again.” • “It teaches you to paraphrase in a tight way. Tweeting is great for tight writing.”
Quakes show Twitter’s value • Indonesia • Twitter HQ • Lists • Location search • Term or hashtag search
Examples from one day in Iowa • Click trends • Search hashtag #iagaymarriage • @tdorman from Supreme Court, press conference • @DM_in_the_PM from rally • @dianeheldt from court
Twitter’s value in breaking newsnot happening in Iran, Haiti • Emergency landing • DC Metro crash • @jkrums on Hudson emergency landing • @2drinksbehind on Denver plane crash • Fargo flooding