Finding Story in Social Media

Social Media & NewsSue Robinson

University of Wisconsin-MadisonCopyright

Let’s talk first about…

• News Narrative– Journalists storytellers for the nation– Telling stories of humankind – person vs nature,

person vs. person, person vs self– Elements of complication/resolution (emotion,

suspense, but most of all ACTION!!!)

If we think of news story in text as having the following elements…

• (When) Chronology – past, present, future• (Where) Setting – local geography• (Who) Character – archetypes, officials• (Why) Motivation – hegemonic values• (What) Plot – episodic, thematic, mythic

… Then what are content characteristics/dynamics of social media platforms that emphasize which components of STORY?

• Group 1-2: On Facebook?• Group 3: Pinterest?• Group 4-5: In Twitter?• Group 6: Our blogs?• Group 7: Instagram?

Each group please tweet out a 6-second vine with your answer (1-word

responses? Screenshots?). Put on the FB post related to group.

Twittering the news: The emergence of ambient journalism

What is the main point of this article? Thinking about the following in particular:• What is ambient journalism?• How can journalists adapt to the awareness

system they argue is developing?• “In an awareness system, value is defined less

by each individual fragment of information that may be insignificant on its own or of limited validity, but rather by the combined effect of the communication” (301)

--from Affective News and Networked Publics: The Rhythms of News Storytelling on #Egypt

• “Twitter is frequently used to call networked publics into being and into action during periods of political instability.” What possibilities does this hold for story?

• “…platforms like Twitter permit individuals to bypass traditional gatekeepers and contribute directly to the news process. However, these instances also expose temporal incompatibilities between Twitter as a news platform and the conventions of journalism.” How can we change or adapt our notions of narrative to resolve this discrepancy?

Thinking of our readings, what are some tricks and tips to producing story within social media? (Please tweet to #socialj)

– The Genuine Article– The Lego-Approach to Storytelling– From Blog to Narrative– Billy Baker– Reporting Life

But you also have to think about YOUR OWN BRAND as a STORY

• What is your vision (big picture), mission (vision defined), value system (strategies)? In other words, WHAT IS YOUR BRAND?

• What is your conflict/problem you are trying to solve?

• Who are all the characters in your story? How will you speak to all of them? How do you weave audiences into the story?– LISTEN AND RESPOND

• What’s motivation of you and your characters (part audience)?– Material? Social? Ideological?

• How is this story playing out for you? “Plot your plot” (Ed Schipul, CEO of Tendenci)– Think video, twitter (ask questions, tell stories,

answer questions, say thanks)

Check out how these brands are harnessing social media to convey their narrative….

• Washington Post’s Facebook story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/facebook-story-mothers-joy-familys-sorrow.html?hpid=topnews

• Nicholas Kristof on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristof

• CNN’s iReport: http://ireport.cnn.com/• “My Starbucks Idea”

http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/

In-Group DiscussionDiscuss an answer to the following question and then post answers on Facebook:

How might we use the networked culture to resolve these issues?

• Group 1-2: stereotypes and bias?• Group 3-4: simplicities of story• Group 4-6: missing voices• Group 7: inattention and apathy

Best Curating Tips• Have a meaningful, key-worded headline• Make sure you use the description box• Don’t just stack tweets, updates but write them into a story

with context (beg, mid, end AND transitions)• Introduce characters; make sure you know who you are

citing (go to their profile)• Verify the tweets if that makes sense to do so, such as

declarations of facts (see our Detecting Online Bull lecture)• Ask questions• Use lots of different combination of search terms• Take advantage of opportunity to bring in alternative

perspectives!!!

Let’s Curate• Storify Contest– Working in groups, please pick a focus from within your topic and

compose the best storify on your topic • Group 1-2: Kiev• Group 3-4: Olympics• Group 5: Facebook and What’sApp bid• Group 6-7: Net Neutrality

– You must give us the handles of FOUR key influencers and TWO major hashtags on the topic as a way that you would market your storify

– Best package wins prize!!– Please link to your storify and add your key influencers, hashtags

in a Facebook post and comments– Due before Thursday’s class if you want a shot at the prize– Please post a link to Facebook AND tweet out to #socialJ