This document discusses how journalists can use social media like Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and Flickr to connect with audiences and generate stories. It provides three case studies of newspapers successfully sourcing or developing stories from social media posts by readers. It encourages journalists to actively participate on social media sites where readers are in order to listen to them, encourage participation and feedback, and develop two-way conversations that can lead to new stories and deepen engagement with readers.

1. Social media for journalists How blogging, Twitter and Facebook can help connect you with your audience

2. From tweet to print

3. From tweet to print Salem NewsTwitter post goesup at 1:50 p.m.

4. From tweet to print Salem NewsTwitter post goesup at 1:50 p.m. By 4:30 p.m., a complete story with slideshow and a map

5. From tweet to print Salem NewsTwitter post goesup at 1:50 p.m. By 4:30 p.m., a complete story with slideshow and a map Local blogger poststo TwitPic. How do we get him involved?

6. Case study #1 Newton blogger Doug Haslam posts photo of snowy sidewalk

7. Case study #1 Newton blogger Doug Haslam posts photo of snowy sidewalk GateHouse’s Greg ReibmanretweetsHaslam’s post

8. Case study #1 Newton blogger Doug Haslam posts photo of snowy sidewalk GateHouse’s Greg ReibmanretweetsHaslam’s post Mayor Setti Warren calls Reibman, andthe snow is removed

9. Case study #2 “Yes we do censorreader comments. “We’ll continue to.”

10. Case study #2 “Norton Street” comments onurban-design issues

11. Case study #2 “Norton Street” comments onurban-design issues Reveals himself to be Jonathan Hopkins, an architecture student

12. Case study #2 “Norton Street” comments onurban-design issues Reveals himself to be Jonathan Hopkins, an architecture student NHI’s Paul Bass accompanies Hopkins on walking tour of city

13. Case study #3 SeeClickFix: Your local assignment desk?

14. Case study #3 New Haven Independent runs SeeClickFix RSS feed on its site. Residents start complaining about “the ugliest storefront on Chapel Street.”

15. Case study #3 NHI’s Melissa Bailey writes a story, citing 42SeeClickFix complaints

16. Case study #3 NHI’s Melissa Bailey writes a story, citing 42SeeClickFix complaints Business ownerpledges to workwith community

17. Case study #3 NHI’s Melissa Bailey writes a story, citing 42SeeClickFix complaints Business ownerpledges to workwith community NHI story generates another 24 comments from readers

18. Closing thoughts You need to be where your readers are Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr

19. Closing thoughts You need to be where your readers are Don’t just publish your RSS feed Let readers hear the voice of individual reporters and editors Social media are more about listening than broadcasting Encourage audience participation: story ideas, photos and videos

20. Closing thoughts You need to be where your readers are Don’t just publish your RSS feed Think of your Web site as a hub Use your site to push readers out to your social-networking places Use your social-networking places to pull readers in to your main site

21. Closing thoughts You need to be where your readers are Don’t just publish your RSS feed Think of your Web site as a hub YOU ARE THE EXPERTS. What is working best for your news organization?

22. (cc) By Dan Kennedy February 4, 2010 Some rights reserved Creative Commons license online at: www.dankennedy.net Northeastern University Boston, MA 02115