News rooms need to engage in social media. But how? Here are 10 steps suggested by JD Lasica, president of Socialmedia.biz.
Traditionally most journalists, like myself, are trained in efficient one-way communication. A major part of the professional role is being a gatekeeper, in which we sort through information in order to present the most important in a readable way.
Today the role of the journalists is changing rapidly. We no longer have monopoly in distributing news and analysis. Instead the professional role of journalists to a much larger extent requires continuous dialogue with our readers. Articles will be produced in cooperation with readers.
It is a paradigm shift. I am convinced that in 5-10 years time social media competence will be essential for anyone who tries to be hired as a journalist.
This is a presentation given by JL Lasica, president of Socialmedia.biz, to a group of local media executives in the Pacific Northwest in USA. His advice, including how to use Twitter, is obviously intended primarily for local media, but I think many of his suggestions are relevant for national and international media as well. Do note some of the tools he mentions in the presentation.
He gives 10 practical tips for the media:
1. Be first with breaking news
2. Leverage Twitter
3. Enable conversations
4. Get widget-happy!
5. Community video
6. Geocoding & citizen photography
7. Create local map mashups
8. Hook up with Facebook
9. Tap into sharing economy
10. Study, borrow, steal
Here is the presentation:
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