1. for Newsroom @stevebuttry Gazette Communications Mid-America Press Institute Feb. 13, 2010 #mpichange Leaders

2. Resources to help journo tweeps “Twitter tips for journalists” on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com “Breaking news” and “Twitter”categories on my blog These slides (and other Twitter slideshows) at slideshare.net/stevebuttry #mpichange

3. What’s your social media strategy?

4. Why should you use Twitter? Let’s ask the tweeps

5. Why should you use Twitter?  It improves your journalism  It connects you with the community  It changes your newsroom culture  You can use it quickly  It shows that you are learning and changing, too

6. How Twitter helps journalists  Quickly locate eyewitnesses & participants in breaking news  Connect with sources, journalists  Monitor community discussion, get story ideas  Promote content  Write tight (no lead longer than a tweet)

7. How do I get started? 1.Open account 2.Be sure to fill in bio, location, picture 3.Decide how to use phone 4.Start Twittering 5.Follow some people

8. Twitter terminology  Tweet, an update (noun or verb), up to 140 characters  Tweeps, your followers  Retweet (RT), to pass on a link or thought (can be quote, paraphrase, starting point)  Tweetup, a physical gathering of tweeps

9. An editor to follow

11. Mid-Am newsroom leaders @carolynwashburn (DM Register) @kgreenbaum (Waterloo Courier) @dennisedit (Lawrence Journal-World) @JoeHight (Oklahoman) @SCJMitchP (Sioux City Journal) @amestribeditor (Alexandra Hayne) @henryhoward (Lafayette Journal & Courier) @DaleAlison (Burlington Hawk Eye)

12. What should I tweet about?  Link to a new blog post, story, video, photo  Retweet (with a comment) a link from a colleague  Reply to someone from your community  Tweet an unfolding story  Tweet something insightful or funny

13. Linking with Twitter  Use compressed links: bit.ly, tinyurl.com, is.gd, tr.im, etc.  Write a headline or a comment; give tweeps a reason to click  Credit (RT or via)  Use Publish2

14. 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

25. Tips from Nancy Newhoff “Short quick sentences and get it sent. The whole idea is to be an instantaneous as possible.” “Hit send and then start typing right away again.” “It teaches you to paraphrase in a tight way. Tweeting is great for tight writing.”

30. Quakes show Twitter’s value Indonesia Twitter HQ Lists Location search Term or hashtag search

35. Great crowdsourcing tool

38. Examples from one day in Iowa  Click trends  Search hashtag #iagaymarriage  @tdorman from Supreme Court, press conference  @DM_in_the_PM from rally  @dianeheldt from court

45. Twitter’s value in breaking news not happening in Iran, Haiti  Emergency landing  DC Metro crash  @jkrums on Hudson emergency landing  @2drinksbehind on Denver plane crash  Fargo flooding

61. Twitter twists  Tweetbeep & Tweetscan  Interface w/other social media  Publish2  TweetDeck, Tweetie, etc.  Twitpic  Lists, favorites, retweets

62. Ways to use Twitter  Follow people on the beat (put their feeds on beatblog)  Crowdsource (“Does anyone know anything about …?”)  Story ideas (ask, monitor chat)  Connect with eyewitnesses  Drive traffic to blog posts, stories

63. Ethical considerations How do you identify yourself? Separate personal and professional Twitter feeds? How do you verify? What language is acceptable (WTF)? What, if any, opinions are OK?

65. Let’s check advice from the tweeps

66. Wrapping up These slides at slideshare.net/stevebuttry Follow me on Twitter: @stevebuttry Twitter tips, time management tips, links to journalists & helpful resources on Twitter on my blog: stevebuttry.wordpress.com Make Twitter part of social media strategy

67. Final advice From @mathewi (GigaOm): Don’t answer, “What are you doing?” Answer, “What am I thinking?” And from @stevebuttry: “What do I want to know?”