Twitter for Reporters

Twitter for ReportersCall (877) 411-9748

Access code: 630-956-8834

› What is Twitter?› Why reporters should tweet› Basic terminology, screen overview› Your professional identity› Tone, content strategy› Building a following› Ethics overview› Time-saving tips and tools› Using search, lists› Few to follow, questions

Agenda

› 140-character messages, sent out to followers

› Great for following and reporting breaking news

› Another tool to promote our websites

› Provides another way to reach new readers, sources

What is Twitter?

› News consumers favor Twitter over other social media platforms*

› Offers news gathering opportunities

› Helps to brand news organization

› Builds connections with new readers

*Source: Pew Research Center

Why use Twitter?

› 100 million active daily users

› 5,700 tweets every second

› 170 minutes: average time spent per month

Source: mediabistro

Why use Twitter?

Basic terminology

› Tweet› Follow, unfollow› Retweet (RT)› Hashtag› Mention› Trending› Direct message (DM)› Feed› Modified tweet (MT)

› Tweet A 140-character post on Twitter

Terminology

› Follow, unfollow You follow Twitter users to see their tweets; unfollow to remove

Terminology

› Retweet (RT) Repeating another’s tweet to all your followers

Terminology

Terminology

› Mention (@) Used to mention (or reference) another Twitter user; alerts that user

Terminology

› # Hashtags Are used to indicate searchable topics like town names or big events

Terminology

› Trending Used to indicate a certain term is popular, being tweeted often

Terminology

› Direct message (DM) Use when you want Twitter users to contact you privately

Terminology

› Feed View of most recent tweets from the people you follow

Terminology

› Modified tweet (MT) When you’d like to retweet, but are over the 140-character limit

Terminology

Screen overview

› @ Connect› # Discover› Me (your profile)› Search box› Mailbox› Settings› Compose

Screen overview

› Avatar Photo should be a clear, normal headshot

Your identity

› Profile name Use your byline – your full name

Your identity

› Handle Should incorporate the name of your newspaper

Your identity

› Bio Identify yourself as a reporter, include what you cover and link to your website

Your identity

› Personality Great, when appropriate

› Sarcasm Doesn’t always translate

› Objectivity Important, even when using humor

› Negativity Avoid if possible

› Conversation Don’t be overly formal, “official”

Tone & content

Tone & content

Tweet often, regularly

Gaining followers

Promote handle in print, website, Facebook Include in email, business cards Interact – use @ and #

Follow, follow, follow

Ethics roundup

› Verifying sources› Being transparent› Your personal account› Halting rumors› Offensive tweets› Offensive followers

Ethics roundup

› Verifying sources“Verify information separately; interview sources independently of the social networks.”

Direct message the user, ask for phone number

Use @ to contact and request an interview Speak to the person, get more information Talk to your supervisor

((side note))

› @ mention public vs semi private

@SarahShipley I’m a reporter with The Times and would like to inverview you. Can you call (555) 555-5555?

.@SarahShipley has some great photos of the train wreck.

Ethics roundup

› Being transparent“Tell contacts what you are working on, why, and how you plan to use the information they supply. Explain all that information is on-the-record and for attribution.”

Don’t just grab quotes Be open and honest Tell sources they will be quoted

Ethics roundup

› Your personal account“You are always a journalist; what you do on your social networking site can and does reflect on you personally and professionally and on the company.”

Give it the publisher/grandma test If you tweet it, someone can find it Be mindful of who you follow, and who

follows you

Ethics roundup

› Halting rumorsDo not publish unverified information you saw on Twitter on your newspaper’s website or in print.

“According to Twitter sources” doesn’t cut it Inform followers you are working to verify If you see misinformation, call it out

Ethics roundup

› Offensive tweetsIf you accidentally tweet something offensive, remove it immediately and tell your supervisor.

Deleting the tweet doesn’t mean you pretend it never happened.

Prepare a response. Screen shots will bite you. People retweeted? Contact those people,

deliver prepared response. Publish that response in print and online; link

to it on Twitter.

Ethics roundup

› Offensive tweets (for editors)If you are the editor and have reporters tweeting for the first time – train, train, train.

Ask to review tweets before the reporter posts

Provide examples – have the reporter follow other GateHouse reporters

Monitor like a hawk

Ethics roundup

› Offensive followersBlock offensive or controversial followers. Your account is a representation of the entire company.

Most politicians and political groups are fine Follow both sides or viewpoints Extreme political, social or religious groups

are not Use your best judgment Be prepared to explain your decisions

Off duty posting

› How can I tweet on days I’m not working?Use Twuffer.com, which allows a Twitter user to compose tweets in advance, and schedule the posts

Off duty posting

› In case you missed it› Looking ahead› Entertainment content› Lifestyles content› Link to online weather

page› Blog posts› Callouts for future

stories› Facebook promotion

Off duty posting

Five Twitter tips

› Try not to use all 140 characters

WHY People might want to retweet you, and add their own comment.HOW Don’t be an AP Style slave. Use reasonable abbreviations. Use twitter terminology.EXAMPLEA 4-car crash on Hwy 6 is causing major delays in #Peoria. Avoid if possibleIts snowin like crazy. Neone have pics to share?

Five Twitter tips

› Use hashtags and retweet often

WHY Using hashtags and retweeting others will help Twitter users find you and follow you.HOW Search for hashtags in your community, or create your own as a newsroom.EXAMPLES

Five Twitter tips

› Use a URL shortner

WHY You want to maximize your ability to sell your content, and you only have 140 characters.HOW Use a web tool like bitly, or HootSuite’s built-in shortener.EXAMPLE

Five Twitter tips

› Direct message to find sources for stories

WHY You need to verify someone’s identity and get their permission to quote them.HOW If they are following you, use Twitter’s direct messager. If not, use an @ mention, and pass along your contact information.EXAMPLE

Five Twitter tips

› Tweet at popular times

WHY Maximize your Twitter efforts by posting at popular tweeting times.HOW Use Twuffer or a social media deck to schedule your posts.EXAMPLE Afternoon tweets, around 5 p.m., get the most retweets. Lunchtime tweets, around noon, also get retweeted more often.

Using lists

› Use lists to curate groups of Twitter users› Allows you to scan select accounts

quickly

Using lists Go to your lists page

Using lists Click “Create list”

Using lists

Enter list name, description; select private/public

Save list

Using lists

Using search

› Use Twitter’s advanced search tool to find potential stories and sources

search.twitter.com

Using search

@Bpetrishen_MWDNBrad Petrishen

@RichardLodge_MWRichard Lodge

@DanCagenDan Cagen

@SpitzJ_MWJulia Spitz

A few to follow

@JournoBuedelMatt Buedel

@lauranightLaura Nightengale

@JayDRedfernJay Redfern

@denniseditDennis Anderson

Questions?

@cox4ghmCarlene [email protected]

Twitter for Reporters

Technology

Transcript of Twitter for Reporters