tools, not toys: teaching practical social media use in journalism … · 2010-09-19 · 9/19/10 1...
TRANSCRIPT
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Tools, Not Toys: Teaching Practical Social Media Use in Journalism
and Beyond
Bob Britten West Virginia University
@thebobthe
FIRST: DON’T PANIC
How not to panic
• Don’t fear the Millennials – Savvy doesn’t equal Skill
• Know what you’re dealing with – Social media is about networks
• Networks can be mobilized – Don’t teach technology – teach how to
connect
http://interactivejournalismwvu.wordpress.com
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Student blogging
• Personal blogs (Week 2) – 2 updates / week (minimum) – Clear and specific focus
• Group blogs (Week 8) – 4-5 person groups – Update from each member / week (minimum) – Detailed, specific mission statements – Recurring departments
CATBLOGGING: A CASE STUDY
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SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGES!
Social Media Challenges!
• Dynamic name, huh?
• Use familiar social media to do a job – Follow relevant sources – Forge connections – Mobilize existing connections – Synthesize new ideas via connections
• For example …
The Facebook Question
• How many friends / followers do you have? – Is this just a passive collection? – Why not DO something with it?
• Challenge: Mobilize this network by asking it for help
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Blog Synthesis
• What do you do with your blogroll? • Is it a tool or a trophy?
• Challenges: – Follow related blogs via RSS – Forge connections by commenting – Synthesize new posts
• Combine ideas from your blogroll • Always link and give credit!
Communal Mapping
• When do you use maps? • We can do it together, too!
• Challenge: Synthesize a team map with public data – e.g., Health violations, Sex offenders – Bonus points: Do it remotely
Teaching Connectivity
• Learn the apps, but teach the skills
• Use social media connectivity to follow, forge, synthesize and mobilize
• Teach to participate, not just take – Find your own cat people
• Don’t panic!