Using Social Media as Powerful Reporting Tools The document provides guidance on using social media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google Forms as reporting tools to effectively search for news and sources, locate tweets from specific areas, post call-outs, and curate news responsibly. It offers tips on following the right people on Twitter, using advanced search functions, verifying sources, contacting people who post information, and telling stories through tools like Storify and maps. The overall message is that social media can be a first line of defense for breaking news if journalists know how to search effectively and curate information responsibly from these platforms.

1. Using Social Media
as Powerful Reporting Tools
@carlazanoni

2. News Breaks on Social Media

3. Social Media in Your Newsroom

4. Get There Before Everyone Else

5. Secrets of Social Success
• Following
the right
people
• Knowing
the best
ways to
search

6. By the end of this session,
you will be able to:
• Search Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
and LinkedIn effectively for news and
sources.
• Locate tweets from a specific area.
• Post effective call-outs on social media.
• Use Google Forms to collect info.
• Curate news responsibly.

7. Twitter Lists

8. HOWFollow people and brands
that make sense for your
beat.
Don’t overwhelm your feed
by following too many
people.
Follow the right people and
organize everyone else into
lists.
Look at profiles and feeds
before deciding to follow.
Modify search for “people” to
get started. Sometimes Google
is a better way to find a handle.
Whom do other people follow
(e.g., colleagues, sources, other
journalists)?
Competitors’ staff lists are a
good place to find other
journalists in your market.
Like what someone else
retweeted? Follow the source
of the tweet.
WHO

9. Breaking News: First Line of Defense
https://twitter.com/search-advanced?lang=en

10. Search Terms
https://twitter.com/search-home#

12. Using the Right Search Terms
• People
• Places
• Things
• Don’t forget the words: Me, My,
I*
*Thanks to Daniel Victor for this brilliant tip and observation. http://bit.ly/victoroneword

13. Breaking News Checklist
•Open many keyword searches using
several keyword combinations
•Monitor existing Twitter lists
•Build new lists of sources to share with
the newsroom

14. •URL to tweet
•Username
•Date, time
•Screen-grab image in
case it is removed
•Embed code to drop
into your story
Be Sure to Collect:

15. Now, You Try!
• Search for tweets from a recent fire
or emergency that took place in
your area.
• Choose the strongest photo or
tweet you can find.
• Collect relevant information for
reporting/story.

16. Facebook Search

17. Facebook Groups
• 3 types of Groups: Public, Closed, or
Secret
• Public and Closed Groups may show
up in search based on keywords

18. Facebook: Graph.Tips
http://graph.tips/

19. Facebook Signal
facebook.com/facebookmedia/get-started/signal

20. Facebook Mentions
• Must be
verified
• Ability to host
Q&As
• Live-stream
video
• Target posts to
followers
facebook.com/about/mentions/

21. Instagram Search: Gramfeed
gramfeed.com

22. LinkedIn for Journalists
• Premium service:
free for one year
for journalists who
do a 35-minute
webinar.
• Keep your profile
current and robust
so potential
sources can find
you.
• Search function
linkedin.com/groups/3753151

23. LinkedIn Advanced Search

24. Now, You Try!
• Find a group on Facebook that is
related to your region or beat.
OR
• Find a professional on your beat on
LinkedIn.

25. Reverse-Image Verification
ctrlq.org/google/images/
images.google.com
www.tineye.com

26. “Kathmandu Earthquake” in 2015

27. Multiple Sources

28. twXplorer: by Knight Lab
twxplorer.knightlab.com

29. Who Tweeted It First?
ctrlq.org/first/tweets/

30. Now, You Try!
Vet the Source: Check user’s account
history by looking at his/her feed.
•Does the quality match?
•Does the size of the image match?
•Has he/she shared images from the
same location?
•Check other social accounts. Are
they in the same location?

31. What if you can’t find anyone?
• CALL OUTS
Photo by sskennel

32. Call-outs

33. Google Forms
google.com/forms/about/

34. https://smamedia.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/journalism5.jpg?w=645

35. • Keep a list of whom you've contacted.
• Ask the person if s/he is OK.
Remember this person may have gone
through something traumatic.
• Ask for phone number or email.
• Call/email. Have him/her meet a
reporter at the scene.
• Verify as if reported on the scene.
You Found Them, Now What?

36. Storify
storify.com

37. Twitter Curator
curator.twitter.com

38. Curate Google Form into a Map
MapAList.com

39. Tell the Story

41. Thank You!
Carla Zanoni
carlazanoni@gmail.com
@carlazanoni
(except for Snapchat!
zanonicarla)
And thanks to @MJenkins, @ByDanielVictor and
@KarenWorkman for contributing slides. Follow them!