Social Media for Practical Journalists

v

Colin Delany

Former political staffer (Texas)

Founder/editor Epolitics.com

Online communications consultant

Political advocate

V

Social Media is....

SOCIALSOCIAL

Information Spreads Person-to-Person

Social Media Needs...

Relationships

Content

Does social media replace journalists?

Does social media replace journalists?

NO![it gives them new tools]

Journalists can use it to:

promote stories

find sources

build a personal "brand"

bypass filters

crowdsource projects

Why social media?

Big Reason #1: Your audience is there

Big Reason #2: People can tell their own stories

Institutions can use social media

Institutions can use social media

So can individual reporters

And reformers

Social media & the Arab Spring

WARNING!

Social media can bypass media gatekeepers

WARNING!

BUT

WARNING!

[Almost] Nothing stays anonymous online for very long

Crowdsourcing

The Social Media Big 3[plus 3 more]

General Tips for Social Victory

• create content people want to engage with

• create content that people want to share

• make it easy for them to share it

• interact with them

• track statistics & reinforce success

Facebook

• Facebook rewards “engagement”

• Post content that makes people want to Like, Share or Comment

Facebook: Visual Content

Twitter

• identify opinion leaders & follow them

• participate in the conversation

• share links to articles and other content

• use #hashtags and @replies strategically

• Track @mentions and retweets

Twitter

YouTube

• use video to amplify your stories

• try including citizen video

• short clips usually work best

• doesn't have to be “slick”

• promote via Twitter & Facebook

Extending Your Reach with Video

Rule #1

Don't be afraid to experiment

Thank You

Colin Delany

Epolitics.com

cpd@epolitics.com

@epolitics

+1 202 422 4682