9/19/10

1

Tools, Not Toys: Teaching Practical Social Media Use in Journalism

and Beyond

Bob Britten West Virginia University

@thebobthe

FIRST: DON’T PANIC

How not to panic

•  Don’t fear the Millennials – Savvy doesn’t equal Skill

•  Know what you’re dealing with – Social media is about networks

• Networks can be mobilized – Don’t teach technology – teach how to

connect

http://interactivejournalismwvu.wordpress.com

9/19/10

2

Student blogging

•  Personal blogs (Week 2) – 2 updates / week (minimum) – Clear and specific focus

•  Group blogs (Week 8) – 4-5 person groups – Update from each member / week (minimum) – Detailed, specific mission statements – Recurring departments

CATBLOGGING: A CASE STUDY

9/19/10

3

SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGES!

Social Media Challenges!

•  Dynamic name, huh?

•  Use familiar social media to do a job – Follow relevant sources – Forge connections – Mobilize existing connections – Synthesize new ideas via connections

•  For example …

The Facebook Question

•  How many friends / followers do you have? –  Is this just a passive collection? – Why not DO something with it?

•  Challenge: Mobilize this network by asking it for help

9/19/10

4

Blog Synthesis

•  What do you do with your blogroll? •  Is it a tool or a trophy?

•  Challenges: – Follow related blogs via RSS – Forge connections by commenting – Synthesize new posts

•  Combine ideas from your blogroll •  Always link and give credit!

Communal Mapping

•  When do you use maps? •  We can do it together, too!

•  Challenge: Synthesize a team map with public data – e.g., Health violations, Sex offenders – Bonus points: Do it remotely

Teaching Connectivity

•  Learn the apps, but teach the skills

•  Use social media connectivity to follow, forge, synthesize and mobilize

•  Teach to participate, not just take – Find your own cat people

•  Don’t panic!