#twutorial for copy editors

Steve ButtryAmerican Copy Editors Society

Las VegasMarch 20, 2014

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com (#twutorial)• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

Branded account voice• Clean copy on Twitter matters & who

does better clean copy?• If copy editor posts story, that’s when

link should be tweeted• Writing headlines & tweets demand

similar skills

Branded account voice• Conversational tone, not headlinese• Reply, RT (even competition)• Thank community members for RTs• Use @usernames• Use #hashtags (#mytownNV,

#NVweather, etc.)

CT Twitter study:• Newsroom accounts mostly heads & links• @5thDistrictCT conversational (links to

competition, RTs, replies, great info)• @5thDistrictCT = 2x to 10x more referrals

per Twitter follower

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

What is curation?Museum curator:• Studies topic• Chooses relevant

content (other sources & museum collection)

• Authenticates• Groups related items• Provides context• Presents exhibit

Journalism curator:• Studies topic• Chooses relevant

content (social media, blogs, staff)

• Authenticates• Groups related items• Provides context• Presents collected

content

Curation tips• Master advanced search• Use curation tools: Storify, Spundge,

RebelMouse, Newspeg, Geofeedia …• Say what you know, what you don’t know• What do you need to verify?• Correct quickly

Vetting & verifying• Track back RTs, etc.

to source • Look for clusters • Location enabled? • Evaluate the network• Evaluate the history

• Links, photos? • Take it old school• Disclose, hedge,

repeat • Be brave only in

correction

Tips from Craig Silverman, Regret the Error

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

Hashtags• Regular hashtags• Event hashtags• Breaking news• Humorous• Chats

Hashtag tips• Use existing hashtag if there is one• Search before launching hashtag (avoid

duplication)• Look for secondary hashtags, especially

in events or breaking news

Building followers• Tweet often• Find & follow local people• Be conversational• Livetweet events• Give more than you ask for• Be yourself

Connecting w/ community• Use Advanced Twitter Search or Nearby

Tweets to find & check local tweeps• Search terms & location to find people

tweeting about your beat• Check followers of @yourbrand• See who tweeps are conversing with• Who follows agencies, people on beat?

Time management• Don’t drink the whole stream• Integrate Twitter into your day• Tweet a few times a day• Check “mentions”• Use lists, alerts & saved searches• Use mobile device• TweetDeck, HootSuite

Organizing chaos• Use Twitter lists• TweetDeck & HootSuite help organize• Check @ mentions• Twitter alerts• Save regular searches (can be columns in

TweetDeck, HootSuite)

Livetweeting• Set context: Event, be clear if you’re not

there• Use hashtag (do you feed into liveblog?)• Feed into site (Twitter widget,

ScribbleLive, CoverItLive, LiveblogPro, Superdesk)

• Monitor or moderate

Crowdsource

Connect directly

Find eyewitnesses

Key developments

Key developments

Tweet photos

Tweet photos

Tweet details, developments

Details from scene

Tweet quotes

Livetweet briefings

Livetweet action

RT other media

Be the source for news

Crowdsource

Crowdsource

If it looks too good to be true,grab a screenshot!

One more use

Conversation among copy editors

Always remember• Twitter is your brand (personal or

company) speaking to the public• Take one last edit through your tweet

before posting (Duh! You’re copy editors)• Correct quickly• Acknowledge errors

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com (#twutorial)• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com