Zombie Journalism

Thanks to Facebook’s near-constant changes to their privacy settings, it’s tough to keep documentation on them up to date. In preparation for staff training here at TBD, I’ve completely overhauled these resources for anyone wishing to use Facebook for their professional journalism uses as well as their personal lives. I hope you’ll find these useful. [...]

When Reuters released its new social media policy last week, their competition had to be salivating. The wire service stipulates that its reporters are not to use Twitter to break news – and thus are digging their own grave.

The National Enquirer’s campaign to get Pulitzer attention should make other journalism outlets stand up and take note. They’ve changed the debate from being about politics rather than merit – and it is brilliant.

Here’s a collection of great tips and how-tos I’ve found lately you might find helpful if you want to break into media – or break out. Includes tips on YouTube, data mapping, UGC, training and starting your own blog.

Recommended reading that’s mostly about Twitter this time – monetization models, the end of the “real” Colonel Tribune, Twitter grammar, tools and other fun stuff.

Facebook has decided to let Fan Pages with less than 1,000 fans get a custom URL – but they’ll have to wait until June 28.

There’s only so much your website and newspaper can do to get readers to your stories – the rest is up to you. You are in charge of your own “brand” as a professional journalist, so here’s some ways to get your work to more people.

Facebook announced today that starting this Saturday, they will begin offering vanity URLs – custom web addresses – for all of their users. If you want yours, you’d better be ready Saturday at midnight.

Recommended links from Twitter data mining and visualizations to a Twitter client for journalists, more hand-wringing from “the establishment” and tips on social media policies.

Recommended links include an explainer on the difference between Facebook groups and pages, the new social media editor at the New York Times and some handy rules for social media.