Blogs and TwitterJan. 24, 2013

Class agenda

A. Meet Jim Collins.

B. Log on. Register for Wordpress.com blog

C. Blog and Twitter discussion

D. Blog activation!

Jim CollinsAudio and Visual Production Coordinatorjcollin@luc.eduPhone: (312) 915-6808Office: School of Communication, 004

BlogsContentFrequencyConnectivity

Blogs: ContentHow does content on a news blog differ from that in a newspaper?

- Length: Generally speaking, newspaper stories are longer than blog entries, which often are just a few hundred words.

- Subject matter: Limited. Clear focus or niche. Often targets a particular audience. A resource.

- Medium: Available online, often not replicated in print. May drive readers to other parts of news organization or other content.

- Chronology: Posts appear in reverse chronological order.

- Timely…

Blogs: FrequencyThe origins of today’s news blogs are earlier blogs which often served as the author’s online journal.

News blog content is updated frequently, perhaps before the “full” picture has been gathered.

Posts may not rise to a level of importance that merits space in print publication

Frequency arguably matters just as much as depth of content

Speed v. Accuracy

Blogs: ConnectivityContent

- Blog posts often link to other news reporting or online content

- Links enables readers to explore a topic in greater detail

- Adds credibility (and … let’s call it “searchibility”)

Community

- Encourages public discourse (comments, links, etc.)

- Blog posts may respond, challenge, add to, etc., others’ arguments or reports

Blogs

CNN's Belief Blog: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/

Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet: http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/

NBC 5's Ward Room: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/

NYT's Well Blog: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/

TwitterWhat similarities do you see between news blogs and Twitter?

– “Microblogging” site. Even smaller bites of content. 140 characters.– Reverse chronological order.– Drives readers elsewhere.– Encourages discourse. (Think responses, retweets, etc.)

Twitter

Twitter#

- Helps users group information, find information on particular subject- Contributes to discourse- Searchable- Enables broader audience to find your content- Used to identify Trending Topics- #FF

Twitter@

- User name or handle- Linked/Searchable- Allows users to direct messages to an individual, but in public setting- twitter.com/usernamehere = @usernamehere

Twitter- “Following” means the user’s content appears in your news feed- One-way- Direct messages are private, but can only be sent to those who follow you

Twitter

Speed v. Accuracy

WordpressStarted in 2003Most popular blogging system onlineAbout 20 percent of all new websites use WordpressAllows for high level of customization

WordpressGetting started

- Picking a theme- Title!- Author/About you section- First post

TwitterGetting started

- Setting up account, bio, Wordpress link (reflexive)- Start following … and be followed