2. SPJ CODE OF ETHICS:
Seek Truth and Report It
Minimize Harm
Act Independently
Be Accountable
#DM4Reporters
3. Traditional Newsgathering
Phone Books
Newspapers
Word-of-mouth
“Man on the Street”
Press Releases
#DM4Reporters
4. Finding News Tips
Reporters are now
using social media
to find leads and
gather information
or sources for their
stories.
#DM4Reporters
5. Gathering Sources
Social Media can help reporters gather sources
for any type of story, but it’s especially helpful
when you’re covering a topic that affects
everyone in the community.
On a slow news day, listen to what people
around you are talking about. Then search for
comments about it on Twitter!
Let’s look at an example...
#DM4Reporters
6. Search Box: Winter, Syracuse
“Real Person”
Element
Factual Element
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7. Scott MacFarlane
@MacFarlaneNews
Washington Correspondent - Cox Media Group
Use the advanced Twitter
search function
Separate tweets by zip code
Find issues/problems town-
by-town
Useful while covering a news
market that has many
different areas
#DM4Reporters
9. Bill Voth
@billvoth
@SpiracleMedia Co-Founder/Freelance Sports Reporter
“Social allows reporters to
take people to places they
haven’t been able to go
before.”
“Behind-the-scenes stuff is
tremendous, as is
immediacy.”
BUILD SOURCES!
#DM4Reporters
12. Vine
More Than 140 Characters
On the scene of breaking news:
car crash, house fire, crime
scene, courthouse
Sports highlights
Traffic jams
Coverage of an event: what is the
atmosphere like?
Behind-the-scenes peek into the
https://vine.co/v/bIiapua5APt Kevin Torres, KUSA Denver
news studio
#DM4Reporters
13. About.Me
Organize Your Social Media
Easy to design
Links to almost every social
media/blogging platform
Add a creative bio to show
your personality
Include a professional photo
Organize your online life
http://about.me/ashley_allen
#DM4Reporters
14. Chris Velardi
@cvelardi
Anchor/Reporter at WTNH in Connecticut
Break News
Get Tips
Research Stories
Sample Opinion (CAREFULLY)
“If a reporter is comfortable using it this
way -- it allows for a real connection
between TV talent and viewers.”
“I always try to reply and I follow a lot of
people. It’s ‘social’ media, after all!”
#DM4Reporters
17. Opinion Sampling Tool
Ask your Twitter followers a
question.
Monitor responses for up to
24 hours.
Automatically Tweet the final
result.
Easily gather opinions/data
for research.
#DM4Reporters
18. Greg Lee
@gregolee
Sports/News Reporter - KESQ - Palm Springs, CA
Use Twitter to keep up with news, but
always confirm the facts. It doesn’t give
you an excuse to be a lazy reporter!
Keep ethics and morals in mind. Use your
discretion when reaching out to a victim
or someone who lost a loved one.
When using the tweets of others in a
story, consider the whole picture. What is
the moral of the story? Recent example:
drunk driving tweet.
#DM4Reporters
20. Staying Objective & Professional
“All AP journalists are encouraged to have accounts on social networks. They have
become an essential tool for AP reporters to gather news and share links to our
published work.”
“AP employees must refrain from declaring their views on contentious public issues in
any public forum and must not take part in organized action in support of causes or
movements.”
(SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT EXEMPT)
“Posts and tweets aimed at gathering
opinions for a story must make clear that we
“Any incoming message that raises are looking for voices on all sides of an issue.”
the possibility of legal action
should be reviewed by an AP
attorney before a response is
made.”
#DM4Reporters
21. Always Do Your Research!
Boston Marathon Coverage - Social Media Disaster
CNN tweets: Piers Morgan tweets that all
CNN tweets: The Associated Press tweets: Dept. of Justice reports of Boston arrest are
investigators believe Boston Marathon bomb and Boston PD wrong, including CNN - which
they’ve ID’d a suspect suspect is in custody and say no arrest is now retracting earlier
in the bombings expected in federal court has been made source info
CNN tweets: law NBC News
Fox News tweets:
enforcement tweets and
FoxNews.com
sources say arrest confirms NO
confirms arrest
has been made in ARREST
made in deadly
the bombings Boston Marathon
investigation bombing
#DM4Reporters
22. Conclusion/Best Practices
DO gather information and sources.
DON’T tweet or retweet without confirming details.
DO maintain professional social media profiles.
DON’T use social media as an excuse for lazy reporting.
DO be yourself on social media! Show your personality.
#DM4Reporters
