Social Media for Editors

Mandy Jenkins @mjenkinsmjenkins@digitalfirstmedia.com

March 2012 LANG Extravaganza

Watch and retweet news from your staff and others. Give feedback

Build & maintain Twitter/FB lists to share

Monitor social media & trendsCoordinate and create hashtagsTake control for breaking news Lead crowdsourcing and

verification efforts

Leading by Example

List ideas:Staff reportersLocal competitors & staffLocal bloggersRegional/state/national newsTopic-based lists (elections, local sports)

Watch trending topics for your area

Watch Google trendsWatch Facebook’s most-liked

Social Media in Story Planning

Trendsmap.com

Local Twitter Trends

trendsmap.com/local/us/cityname

Google Trends

Search by keywords, location, timeAll public tweetsBookmark regular searches

Search.Twitter.Com

Curate Your Local Area Keep open Twitter searches for

local keywords for daily use

Establish and monitor a hashtag for readers to send you info/photos

Search for hashtag(s) already in use If a hashtag is already in use, adopt it If not, choose one that’s simple & unique Geographic abbreviation helps (#caquake) Geographic better than branded

(#capolitics better than #ladnpolitics)

Hashtag tips

Subscribe to Quora in your local area – see what questions are being asked

Watch your onsite searches for questions – what hasn’t been answered?

Keep track of questions sent to your main/section accounts

Hunting for Story Ideas

Take Your Staff LIVE

During Breaking NewsWatch keyword searches and Twitter listsStart writing a story from reporters’

tweetsPublish reporters’ tweets & updates

onlineCoveritLive (can bring in tweets)Twitter embedCuration from tweet embed/StorifyManage a live blog or story

Lead Crowdsourcing

Plan ahead when you can, have a plan for when you can’t

Use multiple platforms (Twitter, Facebook, website, newspaper, IRL)

Ask permission, credit users & say thanks

Crowdsourcing tips

Say what you knowSay what you want to knowSay what you don’t knowSay what you need to knowDon’t spread rumorsVet sources & information

Vetting & verifying Track back RTs, etc.

to source Look for clusters Location enabled? Evaluate the network Evaluate the history

Links, photos? Get to phone or IRL Disclose, hedge,

repeat Be brave only in

correction

Tips from Craig Silverman, Regret the Error

Evaluating TwipstersHow long have they been tweeting?Check previous tweets, interactionCheck bio, linksCheck Klout scoreGoogle name and scam, spammerContact & interview

More on verification: Zombiejournalism.com

Google+: Do It For The SEO

Link Your Profile to Google NewsUnder your profile settings:

• Add the email address linked to your byline on your website

• Make sure your workplace/title are public• Link to your blog, articles• Link to other social accounts

Mandy Jenkins

mjenkins@digitalfirstmedia.com@mjenkins

Blog: Zombiejournalism.comThese slides & more at

slideshare.net/mandyjenkins

THANKS!