carrie brown-smith university of memphis @brizzyc #memstorm: twitter as a community-driven breaking...

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Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

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Page 1: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

Carrie Brown-Smith

University of Memphis

@brizzyc

#MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING

NEWS REPORTING TOOL

Page 2: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

APRIL 2011

Page 3: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 4: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 5: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 6: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

HEIGHT OF THE STORM• #memstorm impressions reached 1.4 million

• Over 200,000 Twitter accounts were reached

• 0.01 percent of all tweets on Twitter were tagged with #memstorm

• **Source: Aaron Prather, local technology entrepreneur and CEO of startup StiQRd

Page 7: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

RESEARCH QUESTIONS• How did the hashtag come into use in Memphis as a way of reporting on the storm?

• What are some of the uses & gratifications of Twitter use during a breaking news situation such as #memstorm? What motivates the public to participate?

• How is this new system of “ambient journalism” affecting local journalism? What kinds of ongoing role can journalists play in this increasingly participatory, always-on news environment?

Page 8: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

AMBIENT JOURNALISM/PARTICIPATORY JOURNALISM

• News today is all around us, all the time, often held in our hands in the form of a mobile device, but we are also not simply receivers of this news but also contributors to it as we go about our day and share observations and information with the world. - Alfred Hermida

Page 9: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

METHODS• Content analysis of 1639 tweets tagged with the #memstorm hashtag during April 2011

storms

• Interviews with prolific hashtag users and local journalists

• Survey

• Participant observation

Page 10: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

R1: How did the hashtag come into use in Memphis as a way of reporting on the storm?

Page 11: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

LOCAL TECH ENTREPRENEUR AARON PRATHER PRESENTS AT IGNITE MEMPHIS

Page 12: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

PRATHER:

Page 14: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

THE BACKLASH

Page 15: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 16: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

BE NICE, SOME SAY

Page 17: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

R2: What are some of the uses & gratifications of Twitter use during a breaking news situation such as #memstorm? What motivates the public to participate?

Page 18: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

KEY FINDINGS• Sharing news and information is, not surprisingly, a key motivation for using Twitter/the

hashtag.

• Direct observations/eyewitness accounts is most popular, followed by more general information e.g. watches and warnings.

Page 19: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

NEWS AND INFORMATION

Tweet Was… Number in sample

Witnessing/Direct Observations 239

Sharing general news/info 46

Includes link 10

From newspaper 4

From television 9

From undetermined source/other 22

From NWS or independent 1

Page 20: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

Retweet was… Number

Witnessing 45

News/Information 317

Includes link 23

From newspaper 21

From television 180

From undetermined/other 18

From independent/NWS 75

Page 21: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 22: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 23: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

#MEMFLOOD LATER THAT YEAR

Page 24: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

KEY FINDINGS CONTINUED• Connecting with others/building community is another key motivation for using the

hashtag.

• Related: Sharing feelings, expressing fears, etc.

• Joking around

• Asking questions/seeking help

• Talking about Twitter/the hashtag/Foxstorm vs. Memstorm

• Praising journalists for their storm coverage

Page 25: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS/BUILDING COMMUNITY• “I feel like I have company, a community, and we are all going through something

together.”

• “It gives a sense of comfort to be able to talk to other people, because I am so afraid of tornados.”

• “Twitter has a huge advantage over traditional sources because it creates more of a community. Everyone is looking out for everyone else during these severe weather events.”

Page 26: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 27: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

JOKING AROUND

Page 28: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL
Page 29: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

ASKING QUESTIONS• “Wondering what #memstorm and #memtraffic is like in midtown since I have to go to

work.”

• “We have people [in our restaurant] concerned about Hernando. Anyone know is Hernando is going to be in any trouble at all? #memstorm”

• “Sirens at work. Can anyone give me an update on the Germantown/Collierville area? #memstorm”

Page 30: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

How is this new system of “ambient journalism” affecting local journalism? What kinds of ongoing role can journalists play in this increasingly participatory, always-on news environment?

Page 31: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

ROLE OF JOURNALISTS, IN BRIEF (SURVEYS/INTERVIEWS)• VERIFY

• AMPLIFY/CURATE

• SHARE INFORMATION USING NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

• ENGAGE WITH AUDIENCE

• PROVIDE LOCATION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Page 32: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

IN APRIL 2011, STILL MOSTLY ONE-WAY, BROADCAST MODEL

Tweets Number

News/information 280

Total replys 5

Total retweets 38

Of other journalists 31

Page 33: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

80/20 BROADCAST/ENGAGEMENT DURING STORMS; 60/40 NORMAL DAY

Page 34: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

RETWEETING WITNESS PHOTOS

Page 35: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

WHEN NON-JOURNALISTS WERE ASKED THEIR VIEWS ON ROLE OF JOURNALSIM:• “Journalists can participate by interacting. If they aren’t interacting and just dishing out

140-character bites of news, the advantage is gone and the viewer might as well be reading a news app or watching the weatherman flip his wig. The talkback factor is invaluable.”

• “The TV stations in New York are now saying, Tweet us a question, and we will ask it on air. I’ve been telling media here, you know, just use Twitter to ask questions and use Twitter to get information you need. Clearly [journalists] are needed. Clearly their jobs are not going away. Clearly they have the responsibility to report non-biased, factual, checked-out, verified information, but that doesn’t mean they have to break [news] all the time. Their job has to be, we may not be first all the time, but we have to be right. Somebody make break that Whitney Houston died, unconfirmed, because they may know it somehow, but that’s okay, the media has to be okay with that, they have to be, we are trying to verify.” – head of a local marketing firm

Page 36: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

VERIFY (NOT A TORNADO)

Page 37: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

NEW IN MARCH 2012

Page 38: Carrie Brown-Smith University of Memphis @brizzyc #MEMSTORM: TWITTER AS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BREAKING NEWS REPORTING TOOL

CONTACT:

Carrie Brown-Smith

University of Memphis

[email protected]

@brizzyc