Automatisms for journalism

How IFTTT, Zapier could help our job

Alessandro Cappai
Aug 25, 2017 · 2 min read

Why should we use automatisms instead of a manual workflow in journalism? In my opinion, because Slack boats, Zaps or IFTTT recipes help us to be more efficient, fast and to reach more people (one to many).

Flowchart

The first footprint of this research was a Slack chat with ONA Local leaders, and I’ve approached the first recipes used by the colleagues in the US. A great discussion started with Meghan Murphy and many other ONA Local leaders.

Then I presented an Italian version of this job during the journalism festival in Perugia with Mario Tedeschini-Lalli.

In this first version, there are yet helpful examples of the use of bots.

When I write a note, I can send it to many addresses with a single button; to my editor, my desk and a copy to my archive.

I also underline how a journalist can use the geotagged information in his report (IFTTT HQ offers many examples).

And then, if I search all (most of all) images and I want to map them a bit can search, filter and arrange the items caught from a particular platform.

This is a map created with a Zap: the Instagram photos tagged #eclipse2017 with the location has become a Google Spreadsheet and then a FusionTable map.

These are just two simple examples about the core of my speech. And if anyone wants to help me: please, don’t be shy and write me.

I’m working more deeply on this interesting inquiry, and I ask Zapier (thanks to Wade Foster and Carlin Sack) to suggest me some routines. Their tools for journalism will be added to my slides for ONA conference with Penny Riordan.

At the conclusion, we can classify the automatisms in three categories. Could be helpful for

  • scraping data and news gathering;
  • organizing newsroom and personal job;
  • sharing and multiplatform publishing.

)

Alessandro Cappai

Written by

Journalist. Proud member of Online News Association. Teacher in digital journalism at the University of Turin. ONA17 and IJF speaker.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade