Geoffrey M. Graybeal, a PhD student and journalism instructor, discusses the impact of social media, particularly Twitter, on news reporting and journalism education. He emphasizes the importance of using social media to find story ideas, engage with readers, and supplement traditional reporting while also highlighting the need for verification and accuracy. The document includes statistics on teen social media usage and practical tips for incorporating social media into journalism practices.

1. Geoffrey M. Graybeal
Georgia Scholastic Press Association
Sept. 22-23, 2010

2.  PhD Student & Journalism
instructor, Grady College
 Teach news writing and news
editing
 Teach and research aspects of
social media
 Use social media for work and play
(@graybs13 on Twitter)
 Taught a “Media and Message:
Communicating in the Digital Age”
course to high school students
 Former professional reporter, high
school and college newspaper
editor

3. 73% of
wired
U.S.
teens
use
SNS*

4.  Twitter, a microblogging service, is used by
19% of online Americans, according to 2010
Pew report
 140-character updates, known as “tweets”
 Teens do not use in large numbers
◦ 8% of 12-17 year olds
◦ Older teens use more (10% ages 14-17; 5% ages
12-13)
◦ H.S. girls use more than h.s. boys (13% vs. 7%)
◦ One-third of 18-29 year-olds use Twitter
◦ Twouble with Twitter

7.  @msnbc_breaking MSNBC
 @GaFrontPage Georgia News
 @Cnnbrk CNN
 @ABH2GO Athens Banner-Herald
 @AJC Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 @RedandBlack UGA newspaper
 @nprpolitics NPR
 @Washingtonpost Washington Post
 @nytimes New York Times

8.  Find story ideas and sources
 Report
 Distribute
 Promote

9.  “Follow” (on Twitter):
◦ Groups/Organizations at your school
◦ Readers/Potential Sources/Classmates
◦ Other media outlets
◦ Media scholars and journalism organizations
(Poynter’s Al Tompkins, AEJMC, HSJ.org)
 “Friend” (on Facebook):
◦ Classmates at your school
◦ Group pages
◦ Event listings

10.  @atompkins What’s the Point of
Cheerleading? It is the #1 cause of female
injuries in High school and college - WSJ.com
http://ow.ly/pRjE
 @Dailytarheel A DTH reporter needs to talk to
an '09 grad taking time off - not in school or
looking for jobs. know anyone? email
azirulnick@gmail.com
 @nytimes Driven to Distraction: Doubts
About Scare Tactics on Drivers Who Text
http://bit.ly/1dbFDT

11.  @Scullyke12 Athens folks: For more
information on local & organic meat, produce
and products, check out
http://athens.locallygrown....
 RT @BeccaHolton SO PUMPED!!!!
http://bit.ly/J6VLM (Harry Potter theme park)
 Free Earthfare food next week! Great cause!
RT @crobcary I wanna see some Gradies
come down to South Campus!
http://twitpic.com/huy7h

12.  Use hashtags to denote a topic
 Can cover and report on speeches,
happenings at conferences, events
 Can text updates from your cell phone 40404
 Can use for breaking news events
◦ Example 2009’s #atlflood
◦ #iran
NEWS BREAKS ON TWITTER NOW (Discovery, Johns
Hopkins shootings within last month)

13.  “Unnecessary quotes” blogger speaks to
Grady students
 “Ginny from the Blog” talks to Duke TIPsters
 DTH live “tweets” during National
Championship; Red & Black during Georgia
Theatre fire

14.  Can use social media to supplement reporting
 Alternative Story Formats (graphics, sidebars)
 Engage your readers, have them contribute to
the story
 Washington Post #wherewereyou 9/11 an
excellent example

17.  Still need to verify, confirm
 Be skeptical
 Make sure the source you follow is authentic
 Accuracy is important
 You don’t want this to happen

18.  Almost like a real-time RSS feed. Send links
to articles on your website.
 @nytimes Census Data Show Recession-
Driven Changes http://bit.ly/4ltTO6
 @ajc Gov. Perdue issues state of emergency
for 17 Georgia counties. http://bit.ly/MNDtW
#atlflood

19.  Use of social media in your core product
(Follow us on Twitter, See our Facebook
page”)
 Promote news about your product to your
followers (“Look for the new issue of the
school paper on Oct. 1”)
 Promote articles (Look for an in-depth
interview w/ Coach Dawg in the next issue)
 Create a page or group on FB or MySpace
 Engage in conversation with readers

20.  You must decide. Levels of censorship and
control vary at schools.
 Advisors
 Editors
 Reporters
 One “organizational” account versus multiple
twitterers

21.  @Eastsideonline: Cherry Hill High School East,
Cherry Hill, N.J.
 @HiLite_news: Carmel (IN) High School
 @aThEENs: Athens teen publication
 @Odysseynewsmag: Clarke Central High
School, Athens
 @Youthjournalism: HSJ.ORG’s Twitter page

22.  A revolution is taking place!

23.  For more information, feel free to contact me:
 Email: graybs@uga.edu
 @graybs13 on Twitter
 #GSPA hashtag
 Additional links on Geoffreygraybeal.com