Twitter

Presentation by Sue Burzynski BullardUniversity of Nebraska - LincolnTwitter1What is it?

Micro-blogging siteTwitter is micro-blogging site that people use to give readers real-time information 140 characters at a timeRapid growthEdison Research: 87% of Americans aware of Twitter in 2010, up from 5% in 2008.200 million users, up from 503,000 just 3 years ago.50 million log in every day.230 million Tweets per day, up 110% since January.Twitter useMore than 17 million users in U.S.Largest age group 35-49Whats happening? Thats the question Twitter asks, but people use it in a variety of ways.

Why use it ?Stay on top of news.Share ideas, tips. Market yourself, your newspaper.Enhance your reputation.Hear what others are saying.Bring traffic to your website.

Twitter wont replace journalismHow journalists use itEngage audiences.Connect with people.Develop personal brands.Ways editors find it helpfulFind focus of stories.Practice headline writing.Learn value of linking.Connect with other editors.Follow industry trends.

Enhance reportingFind sources @derushaj, Minneapolis TV reporter

Success storyDeRusha said in 2007 he was doing a story on December sniffles caused by allergies. He used Twitter to find someone allergic to Christmas trees. Breaking news Examples: 2007 Mexico earthquake 1st reported on TwitterHudson River plane crashFort Hood shooting

Osama bin Laden death

More ways to use TwitterInterviews Man on streetNewspapers Use Twitter to link to storiesEditors on TwitterTips on grammar, usageExamples of good, bad headlines

GrammarGrammar MonkeysGrammar GirlMeperlStyle@APstylebook@FakeAPStyleTexas EditorTwitter as headline practiceWriting Twitter headlinesKeep them shortFocus on keywordsAvoid punsUse linksUse one idea/one story per TweetDoes this headline work?

What about this one?

Headline tips that work on TwitterLose the conjunctionsUse commas for andForget prepositional phrasesUse active voice

Writing TweetsHave a goal.Provide information.One point at a time.Think subjects, verbs (like headlines).Drop articles.Punctuate for clarity.Be professional.Use URL shorteners tinyurl or bit.lyJennifer PeeblesLearning to write concisely

See what journalists are doingMuck Rack is compiled of real-time Twitter activity by journalists. See what journalists are reading, following and talking about. The site is searchable by news organization, tweets, links and photos.Media on Twitteris a sortable database of journalists.Verifying TweetsEthics still applyVerify before you Tweet.Admit what you dont know.Credit what youre using. Remember its public.

How to startGet a Twitter account (its free) at http: www.twitter.comUse a name that will make it easy for people to find you.Complete the bio.Do NOT mark your tweets private.

Next stepsFollow other twitters.Follow me @suebb.Follow people with similar interests.Check WeFollowCheck TwellowCheck in every day.

Twitter termsDM Direct Message (Private message sent to a specific person)RT Retweet (Repost someone elses message)@ - Reply to someone (followed by their Twitter name)# - Hashtag Precedes a keyword and makes it easier to search for particular topics

Twitter listsOrganize people you followFind new peopleMashables How to use Twitter listsListoriousEasy to use Lots of applications for various usesOn Iphone, try TwitterifficOn you desktop, try TweetDeckTwhirl My TweetDeck

Search for hot topics

Use hashtagsA hashtag short character string preceded by # inserted anywhere in a tweet. Makes it easy to track topics by searching Twitter for the hashtag string. #LNK#Journalism

Twitter guidesMashables guide Twitter etiquette10 commandments Twitter Feeds to FollowGood feeds for studentsMore good feeds for student journalists