How to Troubleshoot Apps for the Modern Connected Worker
Using Twitter for research
1. Using
for research
@stevebuttry
stephenbuttry@gmail.com
Newspapers Canada
Nov. 15, 2011
2. Resources to help journo tweeps
• “Twitter tips for journalists” & a listing of
Twitter resources for journos on my blog:
stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• “Breaking news” and “Twitter” categories on
my blog
• These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at
slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• Zombiejournalism.com
4. Twitter techniques
News coverage: Engagement:
• Advanced search • Building a following
• Hashtags • Being conversational
• Vetting & verifying
• Live-tweeting
• Crowdsourcing
• Curating
5. Lurking isn’t enough
• Crowdsourcing is more effective with
more followers & strong engagement
• You can direct-message people who
follow you
• Using Twitter to engage builds comfort &
skill that help w/ research
6. Before the big story breaks
• Follow lots of local people
(NearbyTweets, replies, retweets,
check followers)
• Join local conversation
• Master Twitter search (advanced)
• Promote local #hashtag taxonomy
(#okstorm)
• Use Twitter routinely on your beat
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15. Bookmark this tool
Advanced Twitter Search
https://twitter.com/#!/search-advanced
16. Breaking news research
• Twitter Search (advanced)
• Connect w/ witnesses
• Crowdsource
• Seek verification
• Address rumors (say what you don’t know)
• Seek photos
17. Why use hashtags?
• Find other sources
• Expand your audience
• Organize content (for feeds & contacting)
18. Hashtag tips
• Search for hashtag(s) already in use
• If a hashtag is already in use, adopt it
• If not, choose one that’s simple & unique
(do quick search first)
• Geographic abbreviation helps
• Geographic better than branded
19. Vetting & verifying
• Track back RTs, etc. • Links, photos?
to source • Take it old school
• Look for clusters • Disclose, hedge,
• Location enabled? repeat
• Evaluate the network • Be brave only in
• Evaluate the history correction
Tips from Craig Silverman, Regret the Error
20. Evaluating tweeps
• How long have they been tweeting?
• Check previous tweets, interaction
• Check bio, links
• Check Klout score
• Google name and scam, spammer
• Contact & interview
Tips from Mandy Jenkins, Zombie Journalism
23. Why crowdsource?
• It saves time
• Connecting with sources has always been
one of a journalist’s most important jobs
• You bring more voices to your news
reports
• You engage the community
24. Set the stage
• Build engaged community (follow
people, converse with them)
• Use multiple platforms (Twitter,
Facebook, website, blog, newspaper, IRL)
• Do the groundwork (don’t expect the
public to do your job; invite them to tell
their stories)
25. Crowdsourcing tips
• Say what you know
• Say what you want to know
• Say what you don’t know
• Say what you need to know
• Don’t spread rumors
• Vet sources & information
26. Throughout the process
• Seek story ideas & tips
• Ask questions as you gather info
• Share data with community
• Ask public to continue the conversation
• Sometimes crowd will be quiet; don’t get
discouraged
29. NPR’s Andy Carvin
“I think curation has always been a
part of journalism; we just didn't call it
that.” – quoted in The Atlantic by
Phoebe Connelly
30. What is curation?
Museum curator: Journalism curator:
• Studies topic • Studies topic
• Chooses relevant • Chooses relevant
content (other content (social
sources & museum media, blogs, staff)
collection) • Authenticates
• Authenticates • Groups related items
• Groups related items • Provides context
• Provides context • Presents collected
• Presents exhibit content
31. People to follow
• Look for sources (find people)
• Ask sources
• Journalists in other communities
• When someone follows you, check out to
see whether you should follow back
• When you follow someone, check whom
they follow
• Tweeps mentioned in interesting tweets
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38. Resources to help journo tweeps
• “Twitter tips for journalists” & a listing of
Twitter resources for journos on my blog:
stevebuttry.wordpress.com
• “Breaking news” and “Twitter” categories on
my blog
• These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at
slideshare.net/stevebuttry
• Zombiejournalism.com
Notes de l'éditeur
These are slides for a webinar I am doing for the Canadian Newspaper Association
I’ll make the point that Twitter use needs to be part of an overall social media strategy. While Twitter may be the most valuable tool right now for breaking news, other tools are also valuable and you need to use them in breaking news. And your breaking news strategy needs to be part of an overall strategy that uses social media effectively.
We’ll start with some examples of why Twitter is a valuable breaking-news tool. Most will, of course, remember that Twitpic had the first shot of the Hudson landing.
We’ll also discuss the Denver plane crash that Mike Wilson survived and how the media missed an opportunity by not using Twitter.
If I have time, I’ll use the next several slides in a discussion of how Bill Doskoch used Twitter on a routine (and amusing) daily story.