Social Media in Practice

July 18, 2013

Social Media in PracticeMarina Hendricks | Newspaper Association of America | Arlington, Va.

By the Numbers

By the Numbers: Teens

✤ 65% of U.S. high school students get news and information from the Internet several times a week

✤ 50% use mobile devices for the same purpose

✤ 70% use social media at least several times a week for news and information

✤ 47% spend some time seeking information about what’s happening at school

Future of the First Amendment: 2011 survey of high school students and teachers

By the Numbers: Teens

✤ 23% have a tablet – a level comparable to the adult population

✤ 93% have a computer or access to one at home

✤ 71% with home computer access say the one they use most often is shared with other family members

Teens and Technology 2013, Pew Internet and American Life Project

By the Numbers: Teachers

✤ 49% say emergence of the newest digital media forms has harmed student learning

✤ 53% require students to use the Internet monthly

✤ More than 4 in 5 say it’s “very important” to …

teach students how to use online information

be safe online and protect their online privacy

use search engines

Future of the First Amendment: 2011 survey of high school students and teachers

Why Social Media?

Why?Go where your audience is

“Assuming your audience is middle school and up, you're hitting these kids where they live. … If they can't get it on their phone, they're not caring about it. Newspapers, for many of these kids, are relics.

Matthew Schott, Francis Howell Central High School, St. Charles, MO

“If [you're] not teaching kids how to use Facebook and Twitter, [you’re] abandoning [your] audience. … Every reporter worth their salt is on Twitter, as is every major publication.


“… NIE can be a means to teach kids about the importance of thinking about what they publish. Newspapers don't publish anything anywhere. They fact-check, write and edit tweets [and] Facebook posts, as well as the stories and photos they publish.”


Why?Raise awareness of yourprogram

Why?Raise awareness of yourprogram

Why?Put the spotlight on your audience

Why?Showcase your products

Why?Showcase your products

Why?Explore emerging platforms

Teach new users

Why?Help fight cyberbullying

“If we begin by expecting that our students will be online as part of their daily lives, and engaged in multimedia communication, then teaching them how to act to their advantage within physical and cyberspace networks becomes less optional and more imperative. … [Robust online participation] involves demonstrating respect for the rights and responsibilities of self and others in the digital commons.”

Greenhow and Robelia, 2009

Why?Raise awareness of news literacy

Advice

AdviceStudy other practitioners

AdviceBe professional

AdviceRespond promptly

AdviceCorrect mistakes ASAP!

Things to Consider

✤ What social media do our local schools use?

✤ Are there restrictions on use?

✤ How do social media fit into our program?

✤ Who is responsible for maintaining our social media?

✤ What do we want to share?

✤ How can we use social media to foster news literacy?

Good Reads

✤ High school media online (map and links)http://www.jeadigitalmedia.org/high-school-media-online/

✤ High school media on Twitter (spreadsheet)http://www.jeadigitalmedia.org/2009/04/02/high-school-media-on-twitter/

✤ High school media on Facebook (spreadsheet)http://www.jeadigitalmedia.org/2009/11/06/high-school-media-on-facebook/

✤ Journalism Education Association (JEA) Digital Mediahttp://www.jeadigitalmedia.org/

✤ JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commissionhttp://www.jeasprc.org/

Good Reads

✤ Romenesko (media industry news)http://jimromenesko.com/

✤ The Buttry Diary (digital media blog)http://stevebuttry.wordpress.com

✤ MediaWire/The Poynter Institutehttp://www.poynter.org/category/latest-news/mediawire/

✤ Mashable (social media news/Web tips)http://mashable.com/

Need Help?

http://hendricksproject.wordpress.com

Thank You!

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Social Media in Practice