for Newsroom

@stevebuttryGazette Communications

Mid-America Press InstituteFeb. 13, 2010#mpichange

Leaders

Resources to help journo tweeps

• “Twitter tips for journalists” on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com

• “Breaking news” and “Twitter”categories on my blog

• These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at slideshare.net/stevebuttry

• #mpichange

What’s your social media strategy?

Why should you use Twitter?

Let’s ask the tweeps

Why should you use Twitter?

It improves your journalism It connects you with the community It changes your newsroom culture You can use it quickly It shows that you are learning and

changing, too

How Twitter helps journalists

Quickly locate eyewitnesses & participants in breaking news

Connect with sources, journalists Monitor community discussion, get

story ideas Promote content Write tight (no lead longer than a

tweet)

How do I get started?1. Open account2. Be sure to fill in bio, location, picture3. Decide how to use phone4. Start Twittering5. Follow some people

Twitter terminology Tweet, an update (noun or verb), up to

140 characters Tweeps, your followers Retweet (RT), to pass on a link or

thought (can be quote, paraphrase, starting point)

Tweetup, a physical gathering of tweeps

An editor to follow

An editor to follow

Mid-Am newsroom leaders@carolynwashburn (DM Register)@kgreenbaum (Waterloo Courier)@dennisedit (Lawrence Journal-World)@JoeHight (Oklahoman)@SCJMitchP (Sioux City Journal)@amestribeditor (Alexandra Hayne)@henryhoward (Lafayette Journal &

Courier)@DaleAlison (Burlington Hawk Eye)

What should I tweet about?

Link to a new blog post, story, video, photo

Retweet (with a comment) a link from a colleague

Reply to someone from your community

Tweet an unfolding story Tweet something insightful or funny

Linking with Twitter

Use compressed links: bit.ly, tinyurl.com, is.gd, tr.im, etc.

Write a headline or a comment; give tweeps a reason to click

Credit (RT or via) Use Publish2

People to follow

• Look for sources (find people)• Ask sources• Journalists in other communities• When someone follows you, check out to

see whether you should follow back• When you follow someone, check whom

they follow• Tweeps mentioned in interesting tweets

Tips from Nancy Newhoff

• “Short quick sentences and get it sent. The whole idea is to be an instantaneous as possible.”

• “Hit send and then start typing right away again.”

• “It teaches you to paraphrase in a tight way. Tweeting is great for tight writing.”

Quakes show Twitter’s value• Indonesia• Twitter HQ• Lists• Location search• Term or hashtag search

Great crowdsourcing tool

Great crowdsourcing tool

Great crowdsourcing tool

Examples from one day in Iowa

Click trends Search hashtag #iagaymarriage @tdorman from Supreme Court, press

conference @DM_in_the_PM from rally @dianeheldt from court

Twitter’s value in breaking newsnot happening in Iran, Haiti

Emergency landing DC Metro crash @jkrums on Hudson emergency landing @2drinksbehind on Denver plane crash Fargo flooding

Twitter twists

Tweetbeep & Tweetscan Interface w/other social media Publish2 TweetDeck, Tweetie, etc. Twitpic Lists, favorites, retweets

Ways to use Twitter

Follow people on the beat (put their feeds on beatblog)

Crowdsource (“Does anyone know anything about …?”)

Story ideas (ask, monitor chat) Connect with eyewitnesses Drive traffic to blog posts, stories

Ethical considerations

• How do you identify yourself?• Separate personal and professional

Twitter feeds?• How do you verify?• What language is acceptable (WTF)?• What, if any, opinions are OK?

Let’s check advice from the tweeps

Wrapping up

• These slides at slideshare.net/stevebuttry• Follow me on Twitter: @stevebuttry• Twitter tips, time management tips, links

to journalists & helpful resources on Twitter on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com

• Make Twitter part of social media strategy

Final advice

From @mathewi (GigaOm):Don’t answer, “What are you doing?” Answer, “What am I thinking?”

And from @stevebuttry:“What do I want to know?”