The document outlines various digital journalism tools and techniques, emphasizing the importance of data in storytelling and reporting. It discusses blogging factors for success, the value of live blogging for engagement, and key SEO strategies. Additionally, it provides practical tips for liveblogging formats and content development to enhance audience interaction.

1. Digital Journalism
Tools & Techniques
Steve Buttry
University of Texas-Arlington Shorthorn
August 14, 2012
#utashorthorn

2. Read more about it
• stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• @stevebuttry
• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

3. Text
• Stories • Quizzes
• Lists • Chats
• Headlines • Tweets
• Captions • FB updates
• Liveblog • Text on video
• Comments • Text in graphics
• Polls • Links

4. Audio
• Podcast
• Audio clips
• Audio w/ slides
• Soundtrack on video
• Google voice

5. Visuals
• Photos • Maps
• Slideshows • Instagram
• Videos • Flickr
• Animations • YouTube
• Graphics • Facebook
• Data visualizations • Pinterest
• Screenshots • Twitter

6. Data
• Think of answerbases, not databases
• Data personalizes story for readers
• Data gives lasting value to reporting
• Caspio is plug & play database tool
• DataViz & Visual.ly
• Google Fusion maps
• Google Docs & Forms

7. What’s your blog about?

8. Factors in blogging success
• Idea • Links
• Format • Voice
• Headline • Writing
• Visuals • Conversation

9. Possible formats
• Brief • Promotion
• Video (w/ intro) • Chart/graph/map
• Photo gallery • Q&A
• List • Narrative
• Review • Poll
• News story • Curation

10. The blogging conversation
• Crowdsource (specific questions: “Do you
know anyone who …?” “Did you see …?”
“Has this ever happened to you?”)
• Consider ending post w/ question
• Stimulate/continue conversation in social
media
• Engage with comments

11. Why to liveblog
• Immediacy
• News value
• Storytelling
• Traffic
• Community engagement, loyalty
• Interactivity
• Saving time

12. Liveblog formats
• Update (time-stamp, reverse-chron) in
blog or story template
• Use CoverItLive
• Use ScribbleLive
• Live-tweet (on Twitter or feeding blog)
• Video stream (w/liveblog)
• Raw, edited or moderated

13. Tips, techniques
• Short, frequent takes
• Space isn’t an issue; engagement is
• Liveblog becomes notebook for story
• Consider links, polls, photos, audio, video
• Promote live & replays
• Tweet links to liveblog & replay
• OK to step away for question, video, etc.

14. Liveblog & print story
• Liveblog is notebook: cut, paste & edit
• Note when you know you’ve written
good lead or passage for story
• Does summary (w/ web plug) work for
print?
• Plug “complete coverage” in liveblog

15. Liveblogging issues
• Accuracy (stress verification, ask
questions, seek links & documentation,
correct quickly and candidly)
• Rough copy
• Sports credentials
• Multi-tasking
• Learning curve

16. Keys to SEO
• Relevance
• Keywords in headline (what would you
search for?)
• Keywords in story (best in 1st paragraph)
• Understand how people are searching
• Relevant links

17. Read more about it
• stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• @stevebuttry
• jxpaton.wordpress.com
• stephenbuttry@gmail.com