blogging and liveblogging
DESCRIPTION
These are slides for a workshop for The Gazette in Montreal on blogging and liveblogging. For links relating to this workshop, check my blog: http://wp.me/poqp6-1YdTRANSCRIPT
Blogging andLiveblogging
Steve ButtryThe Gazette
March 19 , 2012#gaztrain
Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• zombiejournalism.com• https://www.newsu.org/introduction-to-
reporting • [email protected]
Team liveblog• Play-by-play• Commentary• Live-tweet (#gaztrain)• Find & add links• Photos• Moderate questions, comments
What’s your blog about? (6 words or so)
Factors in blogging success• Idea• Format• Headline• Visuals
• Links• Voice• Writing• Conversation
Possible ideas• News• Events • Previews• Buzz• Controversy• Releases• Quiz• Q&A
• Aggregation• Curation (pro media
or social media)• Reaction• Reflection• Story behind the
story• Notebook
Possible formats• Brief• Video (w/ intro)• Photo gallery• List• Review• News story
• Promotion• Chart/graph/map• Q&A• Narrative• Poll• Curation
• Videos• Photos• Slides• Graphics• Curation
• Audio• Tweets• Source documents• Maps
Think beyond writing
Keys to SEO• Relevance• Keywords in headline (what would you
search for?)• Keywords in story (best in 1st paragraph)• Understand how people are searching• Relevant links
Reach a wider audience• Effective use of social media (Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, etc.)• Relevant comments (w/ links) on related
blogs (no spamming!)• Emails/tweets/#hashtags call to
attention of influencers
The blogging conversation• Crowdsource (specific questions: “Do
you know anyone who …?” “Did you see …?” “Has this ever happened to you?”)
• Consider ending post w/ question• Stimulate/continue conversation in social
media• Engage with comments
Start a blog post
Why to liveblog• Immediacy• News value• Storytelling• Traffic• Community engagement, loyalty • Interactivity• Saving time
Liveblog formats• Update (time-stamp, reverse-chron) in
blog or story template• CoverItLive (can feed in tweets)• ScribbleLive (can feed in tweets)• Live-tweet (on Twitter or feeding blog)• Video stream (w/liveblog)• Raw, edited or moderated
Liveblogging situations• Breaking story• Meeting• Event (festival, march, concert)• Trial• Daylong (Election Day, weather)• Sporting event (can use fans, HS journos)• Live chat
Liveblogging prep• Get names (confirm spelling), titles in
advance (ask, get program, etc.)• Set scene, saying what you’re covering &
that you’re live-tweeting• Describe your circumstances, vantage
point: at event, watching on TV, curating tweets (Andy Carvin)
Tips, techniques• Short, frequent takes• Space isn’t an issue; engagement is• Liveblog becomes notebook for story• Consider links, polls, photos, audio, video• Promote live & replays• Tweet links to liveblog & replay• OK to step away for question, video, etc.
Managing liveblog & story• Liveblog is notebook: cut, paste, write,
edit• Note when you know you’ve written
good lead or passage for story• Note questions to pursue later• Does summary work for print?• Plug “complete coverage” in liveblog
Live chat techniques• Give some questions to guests in
advance (fewer waits while they type)• Phone conversation w/ guests, giving
time to work on questions• Host chat w/ community bloggers
(dining, sports, entertainment)• Group related questions• Preview questions coming up
Liveblogging issues• Accuracy (stress verification, ask
questions, seek links & documentation, correct quickly and candidly)
• Rough copy• Sports credentials• Multi-tasking• Learning curve
Live-tweeting tips• Don’t transcribe; observe & report• In sports, mix play-by-play & commentary• Use hashtag (& check to respond)• OK to pause for checking facts, names• Note significant pause (halftime, lunch)• Fun interludes, exchanges, anecdotes• Check facts before you hit “tweet”
Points to remember• Standard of completeness changes;
commitment to accuracy remains• Attribute, hedge, verify, seek verification• Say what you don’t know, too• Conversation, not monologue• Consider tone (is opinion or humor
appropriate in this setting, for this blogger?)
Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• zombiejournalism.com• https://www.newsu.org/introduction-to-
reporting • [email protected]