put the crowd to work

Put the crowd to workCrowdsourcing for news & fun

Steve ButtryBennington Banner

March 22, 2013

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• sbuttry@digitalfirstmedia.com• @stevebuttry

What’s a story you plan to work on next week?

Why crowdsource?• It saves time• Connecting with sources has always been

one of a journalist’s most important jobs• You bring more voices to your news

reports• You engage the community

Why pets?

Set the stage• Build engaged community (follow

people, converse with them)• Use multiple platforms (Twitter,

Facebook, website, blog, newspaper, IRL)• Do the groundwork (don’t expect the

public to do your job; invite them to tell their stories)

Crowdsourcing tips• Say what you know• Say what you don’t know• Say what you want/need to know• Don’t spread rumors lightly; question• Vet sources & information• Seek niche crowdsourcing opportunities

Things to consider• Doesn’t work in every situation (what

tool or technique does?)• Is it appropriate for this story?• Match tone to the situation?

Our old process

Graphics by Meg Pickard

Digital First process

Graphics by Meg Pickard

Throughout the process• Seek story ideas & tips• Ask questions as you gather info• Share data with community• Ask public to continue the conversation

Open up interviews

Varying situations• Investigations

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Varying situations• Investigations• Breaking news

Say what you don’t know

Varying situations• Investigations• Breaking news• Annual, seasonal stories

Varying situations• Investigations• Breaking news• Annual, seasonal stories• Community info

Varying situations• Investigations• Breaking news• Annual, seasonal stories• Community info• Seek photos

Varying situations• Investigations• Breaking news• Annual, seasonal stories• Community info• Seek photos• Crowdmaps

Breaking news maps

Varying situations• Investigations• Breaking news• Annual, seasonal stories• Community info• Seek photos• Crowdmaps• Seek opinions

Your next story

Discuss crowdsourcing approaches for a story you will be working on this week.

Hashtag helps virality

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