Seven ways journalists can up their social media game
It’s never been easier for journalists to interact with their sources and audiences through social media. But finding the right mix can be challenging.
By Damian Radcliffe and Destiny Alvarez
Social media is swimming with journalists and non-journalists alike, but too often engagement between the two is scant. That’s the view of Mandy Jenkins, general manager for McClatchy’s local news initiative The Compass Experiment and president of the Online News Association (ONA). Jenkins’ career — which includes being the first editor-in-chief at Storyful, social news editor for politics at the Huffington Post and managing editor of Digital First Media’s Project Thunderdome — is steeped in this space. During a guest lecture for the University of Oregon’s Demystifying Media series, Jenkins identified seven ways journalists can more effectively use social media.
1. As a means for community engagement
It’s never been easier for journalists to monitor the areas they cover and interact with their sources as well as their audience. Most communities and their leaders have an active presence on social media. Yet, around 78 percent of US adults have never spoken with or been interviewed by a local journalist. Those that have are predominantly white, older well-educated males. Addressing this means finding ways to engage with communities face-to-face as well as online. A study from the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas Austin found that the more a recognisable journalist participates and engages with public comments, the overall tone of the comments improve. “Actually, taking the time and interacting with them [commenters] is a great way for journalists to engage with the community,” Jenkins said.
2. By showing how journalism works
With trust in the media near record lows, social media can be used to explain journalistic processes. The Enid and Eagle — a seven-day, morning newspaper serving more than 40,000 daily readers — in Enid, Oklahoma, used Facebook to ask readers and viewers what stories they would like to see. Too often we assume audiences know how journalism works. However, simple things like live-tweeting a council meeting, sharing that ‘today I’m out reporting on this’ or “I’m chatting with this person,’ can help show the work that goes into covering a story. Jenkins said that while these types of posts might be mundane to journalists, they’re not to the public. As a result, they can build connections and demonstrate transparency — especially at a local level.
3. As a feedback mechanism
Journalists often see social networks as promotional platforms. However, they’re also a means to get input before, during, and after a story. Avoiding trolls may be difficult, Jenkins said, but there are real people “out there” with legitimate questions that journalists should answer and address to better their work. ‘Why did you talk to this person, why didn’t you talk to this person?’ Or ‘Why did you write this story vs that story?’ are important questions to consider and respond to, Jenkins argued. ”Use it [social] as a conduit to take feedback on your work,” she said.
4. Making it visually appealing
Social platforms have a lot of digital tools to make posts as visual as possible. “A visual medium forces you to be less wordy and put your opinion in less often,” Jenkins said. “It makes it so you’re only using the words and context that matter.” But be careful to not overdo it. Instead, Jenkins recommends you spread out social posts and use visuals that are important and/or that will resonate with audiences.
5. Using content from the audience
User-generated content and eyewitness media are mainstays of many newsrooms. They can be a great way to combat resource issues, report on breaking stories and fill content gaps. Community members might have a video, or photograph, that journalists can incorporate into their coverage. If you do this, however, it’s important to not only credit the source but also talk to them about their experience. “There are people who are earnestly trying to engage in public life,” Jenkins said. “we should encourage that, especially if it’s in a positive way.”
6. Don’t just follow journalists
“It’s really easy to get stuck in a bubble on social media,” Jenkins said. The most obvious example of this is journalists who only follow their peers and public opinion formers. It’s important to keep an eye on the competition, and to learn — and interact with other journalists — but don’t go overboard. “Please interact with real people and stop trying to impress other reporters,” Jenkins advises. Instead, be sure to “talk to readers [who] share real people’s stuff.” Getting locked in an industry bubble is all too easy and can negatively impact journalists work.
7. Remember, not everyone uses social media
Don’t assume everyone is an active social networker. As Jenkins reminds us, Twitter is a big trap for journalists when it comes to grouping public sentiment. A 2019 study by the Pew Research Center showed only 22 percent of U.S. adults use Twitter. There’s a huge audience who do not.
This article has been edited (with permission) from its original version. Read the full original article here, published by the European Journalism Observatory.
