The document outlines the concept of social reporting for events, emphasizing the role of social reporters in enhancing participation and transparency through digital tools. It includes practical tips for preparation, consent, and effective use of platforms like Twitter and Instagram, as well as guidelines for interviewing and content monitoring. Ultimately, it aims to encourage wider involvement and engagement from both in-person and remote participants.

1. Social reporting for
#fairerscotland

2. What social reporting is
Using digital tools and platforms to share
insights, information, images, audio and video
immediately from an event.

3. What a social reporter is
Delegate and reporter
Eyes and ears
Switched on, confident, politely assertive

4. What a social reporter isn’t
Minute taker
The IT guy
Event support
Award winning filmmaker and journalist

5. Why social reporting matters
Participation
Transparency
Interaction
Wider involvement and reach
Creating a record

6. Preparation
Promotion- Get on every channel! Drive people
back to the online event listing, blog. Promote
hashtag so people can watch and participate
remotely and connect with each other.
Prepare consent forms, opt out option, delegate
packs. Don’t forget wifi login, hashtag, web
addresses in delegate packs. How will you identify
people who have opted out of being filmed or
photographed? How and when do you take
consent?

7. Preparation
Speaker and delegate research- Get together a list
of handles and hashtags to have to hand. Think
about sharing speaker blogs, profiles, information
related to the subject of the event.
Keep Dem Soc in the loop. Host/moderator should
be briefed to make a statement at the start of the
event about social reporters being present, how to
opt out and encourage people to tweet with the
hashtag.

8. Preparation
Make sure your phone is charged and charger is
packed!
Check you are logged in to the right account.
Set roles and make sure everyone is clear on
what they are meant to be doing- you don’t
want channels to look spammy or confused.

9. Twitter

11. The basics- the anatomy of a tweet
Account name, handle, @mention, # hashtag,
140 characters

12. The basics- tweeting
Retweet = recycle
To quote or not to quote?

13. The basics- tweeting
Starting a tweet with an @ mention limits who
can see it. Try to remember to add a full stop at
the beginning or use as part of a sentence.

14. The basics- tweeting
Try to avoid making up hashtags or tagging
common English words.

15. The basics- tweeting from your events
Put in #fairerscotland and any links, images, video and
mentions before composing your tweet
Have prepared or quickly research the handles of anyone you
are referencing so you can @ mention them- it is good
practice and could mean your message reaches further!
You can capture up to 30 seconds of video and still images
using the Twitter app.
Anchor: Is it useful? Shareable? Insightful? Representative of
the feeling in the room?

16. Instagram

18. The basics- Instagram
Username
#hashtag
Tagging other users
@mention

19. The basics- Instagram
Image led
No character limit…but let your image do the
talking
Clickable links not allowed in photo captions, only
allowed in bio (up to 150 characters)
Integration with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr
and foursquare

20. The basics- interviewing
Identify interesting people and get to them
quickly. Think about diversity!
Consider interviewing the speakers, organisers,
colleagues with deeper policy insight

21. The basics- interviewing
Say hello and explain what you are doing
Get consent (if it has not already been taken at
registration, etc)
Discuss the question you’ll be asking but don’t
rehearse or plant answers

22. The basics- interviewing
You’re looking for opinions, not a blow by blow
description of something
Keep the questions open
Be provocative, not aggressive

23. The basics- interviewing
Ask for examples, best and worst, etc
Imagine you’re talking to your friend or a family
member
Get their name, organisation name, Twitter and
Instagram IDs for mentioning when you publish
(write it down!)

24. The basics- interviewing
Say thank you

25. Let’s try it out
Mock interview mania!

26. Monitoring, responding and analysing
Who is watching incoming information?
Who is answering questions and when are they
answering?
How will the information be captured?
How will the information be analysed and what will
it be analysed for?

27. Capturing content for later on
More substantive reflections, ideas,
conversations or provocations can be great for
the blog or Facebook.
Take notes, save social material for expanding on
later.