Best Practices 2009 for the Poynter Institute for Journalists
My friends at Poynter asked me to share what I’ve learned about engaging our viewers and readers online, during their Best Practices ‘09 seminar. So we got together on Skype.
The social media world can be overwhelming - but listening to the right voices helps. Check out my “big-thinkers” twitter list.
My biggest take away is social media is powerful everyday, but it’s transformational when communities are going through important shared experiences. I’ve seen it over and over again:
Governor Sanford’s Love Affair admission (live blogging and fast expert interview turn around using google voice) You Tube Clip.
Barack Obama’s Inauguration (live blog with multi-media )
The night we saw the picture for first time of the serial killer who terrorized our region for 9 days (live blogged news conference, developed fact sheet) You Tube clip.
When our TV tower collapsed in one of the biggest snow storms we’ve seen in recent memory (live blogged from home 10 hours) You Tube Clip.
When we were in wall to wall coverage after a bank robber took employees hostage for a couple of hours. You Tube Clip.
All of these stories were very powerful moments. And they are opportunities to connect with viewers/readers in a powerful personal way. Live blogs (I use Cover It Live) work so well , because you can enjoy the shared experience in that moment, and with Cover it Live viewers/readers can come back later and read it.
And I’m always tagging articles on delicious that have been helpful to me: on facebook - on twitter - and on social media. And a special list for BP09!
When you’re taking on more, with fewer resources efficiency is critical, so I save myself time monitoring news with my custom Alltop page. It’s a newsreader that saves precious minutes.
Ping.fm is what I use to post on all my sites. One stop posting.
Seesmic desktop (now shows twitter lists), Tweetdeck and Hootsuite (gives you option to schedule ahead some tweets for example I am busy toward top of interactive show at 10, so around 930 940 I schedule tweets for 955 and 10 that tease our top story and Live Chat room) are all essential tools I use to manage Twitter. Ubertwitter is my tool of choice on my Blackberry.
Oovoo (warning: doesn’t work with macs) and Wetoku are great services for web cam interviews that look like a double box TV interview and can be easily embedded in your blog.
Screentoaster is amazing for Video Demo’s as you try to explain new web features (see example) or help viewers and readers through new social media features and other “need to see” developments online.
Trust Agents by Chris Brogan is a book that affirms the approach I take, to being transparent and engaging with the audience. Chris has a fabulous blog you’ll find very helpful.
Seth Godin writes a blog I would not miss, for insight into where we are and where we are headed. His books are also huge hits including Tribes, and his newest - All Marketers are Liars.
Engaging the audience using social media.
Read up on this presentation I did with Ellyn Angelotti as we live blogged how it works: includes great links and resources
Additional examples, building on what I shared in our best practices group at Poynter.
Best of the web blog posts: one stop shopping for aggregated content on a big story.
Twitter interviews with 2 leading candidates for Governor in SC Interview 1 Interview 2
Video demonstations to guide people using your site, or changes in social media.
Oovoo and Wetoku webcam interview technology to do interviews with anyone, anywhere, at anytime.
And here are the slides I shared:
Read more about my interactive work:
Media General Newscasts Mix Online With Onair
Trailblazer Interview: Business Blackbox Magazine
Local Media in a Post-modern world
What They’re Saying about Amy as GSATC speaker
Amy Wood Social Media Club Greenville Presenter
ITunes Podcast - Social Media Professor Blog Talk Radio Show
ITunes Podcast - GSATC Social Media presentation
Contact Amy
Amy's Social Web
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