Writing tips for Manship School MC2010 classes

1. Writing for Social Media
@stevebuttry
LSU Media Writing Class
November 2, 2015

2. Tweet during class
• At least 3 tweets #manship2010
• Use your account & post if you want
• Write on laptop or notebook & don’t
post if you prefer
• No more than 140 characters
• You decide content: quote, commentary,
question, photo, observation, etc.

4. Whatever your platform …
• Get to the point quickly
• Keep it brief (even if not limited)
• Consider images & make writing fit w/
photo or video
• Consider tone (what will make people
want to RT, share, engage?)
• Rewrite

5. Opinions in social media
• Opinions aren’t inherently bad
journalism (editorials, columns, cartoons,
commentary, etc.)
• Opinions can be troublesome for some
journalists in some positions or orgs
• Know whether opinions are appropriate
for your media role

25. therealverge
on Snapchat

26. Tanya Sichynsky,
USA Today

29. Social media = journo tool
• Monitored competition
• Found neighbor who tweeted at TV
station
• Checked neighbor’s Facebook page
• Found post w/ neighbor’s email
• Reporter tracked down neighbor, got
story & more photos

33. Social media as a source
• How do you know a source is genuine?
• How does the source know?
• Check photos, location, timeline for
context, clues
• Ask to call you or connect in person
• Grab screenshots

34. • Posting too often
annoys friends, fans
• No 140 limit but
short is best
• Good questions start
conversations
• Engage, don’t
intrude
• Make a point in 140
• Story can unfold in
multiple tweets
• Hashtags help more
w/ search,
conversation
• Engagement not as
intrusive

42. Breaking news on Twitter
• Tell unfolding story
• Capture the moment
• Tweet verified facts
• Say what you don’t know
• Crowdsource
• Use hashtag

48. #Hashtag tips
• Use existing hashtag if there is one
• Search before launching hashtag (avoid
duplication)
• Look for secondary hashtagsHashtags
help find sources
• Use regular hashtags: #GeauxTigers
#TakeTheCrown

59. Crowdsource

60. Crowdsource

65. Writing benefits of Twitter
• Paste lead into tweet box. If it’s >140,
challenge whether it’s too long
• 140 characters gives great practice at
getting to the point

66. Even in longer writing …
Whether you’re writing a long
story for a newspaper or magazine,
or a political speech or a book,
whatever you write, consider
boiling the essence down to a
single tweet.

67. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
@FDR
We have nothing to fear but fear
itself. #NewDeal

68. Anne Frank
@AnnesDiary
Despite everything, I believe that
people are really good at heart.
#DiaryofaYoungGirl

69. President John F. Kennedy
@JFK
Ask not what your country can do
for you – ask what you can do for
your country. #NewFrontier

70. Rachel Carson
@RachelCarson
In nature nothing exists alone.
#SilentSpring

71. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
@MLKing
I have a dream today! #Freeatlast

72. Ronald Reagan
@TheGipper
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this
wall! #Freedom

74. Let’s see (and hear)
your tweets