Mobile Newsgathering

Steve ButtryMadison SPJ

October 17, 2014

Mobile standards● Getting it first or getting it right = false choice

(if you don’t have it right, you don’t have it)● Say what you don’t know● Ask the community (within reason)● Tweets = tips, not verified facts● Connect witnesses w/ reporter on the scene ● Ask “How do you know that?” (they)

Mobile Community● Ask people to call or connect w/ reporter at

the scene● Ask for community photos, videos● Use & encourage hashtag● Twitter advanced search (holy shit, WTF)● Also check Facebook, Instagram, YouTube● Geofeedia, Banjo, Yik Yak

Mobile workflow● Newsworthy verified fact = update● Reporter livetweets● Editor sets up liveblog● Reporter and/or visual journalist post photos,

videos● Crowdsource● Editor verifies & curates community content

Event coverageLivetweet & liveblog everything:● Sports events● Meetings● Trials● Festivals

● Press conferences● Breaking news● Daylong (weather,

election)

Live engagement● Berkshire Eagle murder trial: 25K

engagement hours● Gettysburg 150, 96K engagement minutes in

a day● Dorner manhunt: 4.7M engagement

minutes

Liveblog 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

Tips, techniques● Space isn’t an issue; engagement is

● Liveblog becomes notebook for print story

● Consider links, polls, photos, audio, video

● Use hashtag (check & engage)

● Promote live & replays

● OK to step away for question, video, halftime ...

More tips● Don’t transcribe; observe & report

● In sports, mix play-by-play & commentary

● OK to pause for checking facts, names

● Fun interludes, exchanges, anecdotes

● Check facts before you hit “tweet”

Live coverage issues● Accuracy

● Correct quickly and candidly

● Rough copy; stress writing skills

● Sports credentials, court access

● Multi-tasking, learning curve

● Add public tweets or not?

Liveblog on your site● Embed in story on your site (w/ intro)

● Feed in your staff members

● If using hashtag, monitor & police

● Remember to turn it off

● Can you livestream video (yours or from event organizer)?

From live to print or TV● Will a brief suffice (plugging live coverage?)

● Ask crowd what’s important for newscast, print story

● Reporter writes faster

● Bring back “rewrite” editor?

● Plug newscast coverage in liveblog

Read more about it● stevebuttry.wordpress.com● @stevebuttry● stephenbuttry@gmail.com