Twitter for Journalists@stevebuttryGazette CommunicationsJuly 9, 2009

If you’re new to TwitterHandout for this session has links to vocabulary and “Getting Started” advice and advice for your first weekSee me for individual coaching

How do you use Twitter?

What should I tweet about?Link to a new blog post, story, video, photoRetweet (with a comment) a link from a colleagueReply to someone from your communityTweet an unfolding storyTweet something insightful or funny

Linking with TwitterUse compressed links: bit.ly, tinyurl.com, is.gd, tr.im, etc.Write a headline or a comment; give tweeps a reason to clickCredit

People to followLook for sources (find people)Ask sourcesJournalists in other communitiesWhen someone follows you, check out to see whether you should follow backWhen you follow someone, check whom they follow

Journalism academics to follow@jayrosen_nyu@jeffjarvis@macloo (Mindy McAdams)@sreenet (SreeSreenivasan)@wmacphail (Wayne MacPhail)@davidwestphal@suebb (Sue Burzynski Bullard)

Journalism bloggers to follow@ryansholin@paulbradshaw@michelemclellan@robertniles@agahran (Amy Gahran)@mthomps (Matt Thompson)@sdkstl (Staci Kramer)

Reporters to follow@rsylvester (Ron Sylvester, Wichita Eagle)@DM_in_the_PM (Daniel P. Finney, Des Moines Register)@bydanielvictor (Harrisburg Patriot-News)@tonymess (Tony Messenger, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Ways to use TwitterFollow people on the beat (put their feeds on beatblog)Crowdsource (“Does anyone know anything about …?”) Story ideas (ask, monitor chat)Connect with eyewitnessesDrive traffic to blog posts, storiesHelps you write tight

Examples from one day in IowaClick trendsSearch hashtag #iagaymarriage@tdorman from Supreme Court, press conference@DM_in_the_PM from rally@dianeheldt from court

Twitter’s value in breaking newsnot happening in Iran, Mumbai Emergency landing of flight from CIDDC Metro crash@jkrums on Hudson emergency landing@2drinksbehind on Denver plane crashFargo flooding@MissRFTC on California earthquake

Twitter twistsTweetbeep & TweetscanFacebook appPublish2TweetDeck (& other apps)Twtpoll

Ethical considerationsHow do you identify yourself?Separate personal and professional Twitter feeds?How do you verify?What language is acceptable (WTF)?What, if any, opinions are OK?

Now some advice from your peersMy Twitter streamSearch for hashtag #journtipsSearch for termsCoverItLive

Wrapping upThese slides at slideshare.net/stevebuttryFollow me on Twitter: @stevebuttryA handout for this webinar, links to Twitter help, links to journalists on Twitter, advice from Andria Krewson of Charlotte Observer on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com

Some final adviceFrom @mathewi (Globe and Mail): Don’t answer, “What are you doing?” Answer, “What am I thinking?”And from @stevebuttry: “What do I want to know?”