Chapter 1: Forces at the Gate
Technology has always shaped the practice of journalism and how people consume news. This chapter distinguishes how mobile devices and social media are fundamentally different from past technologies such as television and the printing press. Mobile and social media allow two-way conversations between the audience and journalists versus the old one-way model of mass communications. These new technologies are also more widely accessible, which has led to the public’s active role in the news production process and changed how they consume information. People are now news consumers and producers. While journalists retain discretion on what makes the “news,” an “active” audience plays an influential role. The three areas in which mobile and social media are impacting journalists’ work are addressed: newsgathering, distribution of news, and audience engagement.
Chapter 2: Navigating the Newsroom
Before digging into the hands-on mobile and social media skills in future chapters, a deeper understanding of the business you’re about to walk into is critical. This chapter explores how mobile and social media are transforming business models and editorial strategies. At the heart of multimedia newsrooms are: the audience experience, newsrooms serving as multi-platform hubs of content, and evolving business models. A multimedia mindset will equip you to plan news coverage that best serves today’s audiences.
Chapter 3: Your Social Media Brand
In this chapter, we explore how social media provides journalists the opportunity to build a brand through the type of information they share and their interactions with the public. Your online presence is an extension of your reputation as a journalist. It’s your digital business card. Using social media in journalistic ways will make your brand stand out to potential employers as well. Your online actions impact how hiring managers view you. This chapter shows you how to conduct a social media audit and outlines steps to build your brand as a journalist.
Chapter 4: Social Newsgathering
Journalists use social media to find story ideas, sources, and content. This chapter introduces you to the features of the most popular social media platforms used by journalists and addresses how to harness those platforms for newsgathering purposes. An emphasis is placed on locating reliable information from social media to enhance reporting. Journalists have never had so much information at their fingertips. You’ll learn how to filter and sift through that information. This chapter lays the groundwork for using mobile devices and social media to plan coverage of a story and report from the field.
Chapter 5: From the Field: The Mobile Journalist
This chapter prepares you to make the most of your mobile device as a journalist. We explore the use of mobile devices and applications to gather, produce, and distribute news content—without having to be tied to a physical newsroom or carry around bulky equipment. You’ll learn how to create a mobile journalist go-bag with accessories that will allow you to gather quality content with your device. Building on your understanding of the “digital-first” mindset from earlier chapters, this chapter also outlines how to create a digital-first story pitch, preparing you to create a plan to use social media and mobile devices while covering stories.
Chapter 6: Writing Mobile-Friendly Web Stories
In this chapter, you will identify key elements of a mobile-friendly “snackable” page layout and understand how to format article pages in a way that grabs and sustains the attention of those viewing on a small screen. Readers will also learn to apply fundamental news writing skills to content produced for a mobile audience and explore how to make journalism discoverable to more people by using search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. The chapter discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in writing.
Chapter 7: Social Media Writing and Engagement
This chapter discusses the type of content to share while reporting in the field, how often, and on which platforms in order to engage with the audience. Readers are introduced to the role of social media optimization (SMO) and analytics in today’s newsrooms. We explore how to post valuable content using SMO best practices.
Chapter 8: Audience Analytics
This chapter explores how to analyze the effectiveness of social media activity. You’ll learn how to analyze key metrics for websites and social media platforms. Analytics give journalists an understanding of how audiences are engaging with news products. Journalists’ social media activity is a key driver of traffic to news outlets’ websites and their overall brand.
Chapter 9: Social Media Ethics and Policies
This chapter addresses and provides guidance on the common ethical dilemmas journalists are confronted with relative to social media. As they use social networking platforms for reporting, journalists face emerging issues including the blurry line between their professional and private “social media lives,” the verification of user-generated content, and the appropriateness of “friending” sources. We explore how newsroom social media policies address these issues, including artificial intelligence. Applying traditional journalism ethics to guide journalists’ social media activities is emphasized.
Chapter 10: The Spread of Misinformation
In this chapter, readers will learn what misinformation is and how to identify it. We also explore the motivations behind those who create fake news and the reasons why people share false information, even when they know it’s inaccurate. The topic of how social media and search engine companies have contributed to the problem of misinformation is broached. Finally, this chapter explores the responsibilities of technology companies, journalists, educators, and the public in fighting the spread of misinformation.
Chapter 11: Mobile and Social Media in Your Career
Mobile and social media savviness is important to the success of current and future journalists’ careers, a premise of this book. The final chapter reinforces this point by discussing data about the skills newsroom hiring managers are prioritizing. The chapter also explores the increasing number of newsroom positions dedicated solely to mobile and social media. Finally, we discuss the use of social media as a tool in the job hunt and how the topic is now a key part of the interview process.