These are slides for an LSU Media Writing class.

1. Writing for Social Media
@stevebuttry
LSU Media Writing Class
April 22, 2015

2. Tweet during class
• At least 3 tweets #mc2010
• Use your account & post if you want
• Write on laptop or notebook & don’t
post if you want
• No more than 140 characters
• You decide content: quote, commentary,
question, disagreement, observation

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

14. Tanya Sichynsky,
USA Today

16. 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

20. • 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

25. Why converse w/ no link?
• Question invites conversation
• Engagement w/ question boosts
views/engagement on subsequent links
• Builds brand, gain followers
• Do you enjoy conversation w/ people
always calling attention to themselves?

26. CT Twitter study:
• Newsroom accounts mostly heads & links
• @ conversational (links to competition,
RTs, replies, great info)
• @5thDistrictCT = 2x to 10x more referrals
per Twitter follower

27. Tips for being conversational:
• Monitor @ mentions & reply (answer
questions, thank for links, address critics)
• Make link posts conversational
• RT competition, community bloggers
• Ask questions

33. #Hashtag tips
• Use existing hashtag if there is one
• Search before launching hashtag (avoid
duplication)
• Look for secondary hashtags, especially
in events or breaking news
• Hashtags help find sources
• Use regular hashtags: #lsu

44. Crowdsource

45. Crowdsource

53. 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

54. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

62. Your tweets