On Blogs, Being a Blogger, Blogging, Reading Blogs and so forth.

BLOGS
The word Blog actually comes as a contraction from the word Web Log, it is a chronological log of personal thoughts and ideas written on the internet. A blog is typically run by an individual or small group and is written informally. It can be updated on a daily, weekly, hourly or however often you require basis.

BEING A BLOGGER
Anyone can be a blogger, you just set up a blog and away you go! The trick is having something interesting to say. There are lots platforms on the web that you can use to start your blog: Tumblr, Wordpress, Blogger, Ghost, Wardrobe, Postagon are just a few that you can look at.

BLOGGING
Having something interesting to blog about is the key to a successful blog. My blog is all about Journalism and it's just me sharing my opinion! The Journalism blogs that will get the most traffic will be those from already established and trustworthy sources; those that are writing about current affairs that are of interest and those that try to generate exposure. You can write about news stories, the news coverage, tips and tricks, trending or anything that you want to talk about...it's your blog!

READING BLOGS
One of the best ways to improve your writing is to READ and to specifically read other blogs. This will teach you what you need to know and help you to develop your writing and your technique.

AND SO FORTH
Blogging is one of the first steps of self-promotion you can take in the 'online community' where you will actually be able to voice your opinions. It's where you can build your professional reputation and let people know who you are and what you believe....they may even want to hire you or work with you in the future. It's the platform you can use to test out your ideas and get real feedback. You are able to share your knowledge and promote your work to professionals like yourself. Blogging makes a Journalist 'freelance' as it's the place you can say what you think, without fear of a gagging order! (Well, almost!)

Networking and building up your 'online' presence is the point of this blog, by linking your blog to your Facebook, Twitter and whatever other Social Media platform you use, you will attract followers. The more you write, post, tweet and capture through social media the more your presence will be noticed and the greater capacity you will have to succeed in the industry.

Driving Journalism the DATA way!

What is data Journalism? quite simply it is stories told using infographics. It is a way for Journalists to share complex information in a visually appealing way. In today's world Journalists are not always the first to report information, but what can set them apart is creating visually appealing infographics that explain the story. A good data Journalist can not only report on events but, using data can show what affect these events can have, thus making their story more appealing. This can give the Journalist or news organisation the 'edge' on competitors.
 

At the heart of data journalism is a good infographic, the story is only part of the picture. Many things still must be considered like with any story: What are the implications? how do I make it interesting and accessible to everyone? Television presenters are using info graphics in their news reports and this is becoming far more common. News that is easier to understand for the public is at the heart of this. The BBC have launched a daily infographic service on social media, whereby they aim to 'deliver a salient, interesting nugget on a big story'.

Data Journalism isn't just about graphs and pie charts, it is about creating visually appealing stories that SELL, INFORM and EMPOWER the public with knowledge. As with any source of information both the Journalist and the reader must be aware of how it can shape or restrict the stories that are created.Infographics are a tool of the trade and as such should be used alongside others tools to enhance your work.

I'm a Curator: That's CURATOR...not CREATOR! Although, you could say I am both!

To be a Journalist today you have to be adaptable. You have to try and be at the forefront of not only the news but of new media tools. You have to be a quick thinker, smart editor and a whizz with a computer! I have recently been using Storify an online curation tool used to help people 'make sense of what others post on social media' (Storify mission statement). The concept behind this new platform is that there are many voices on social media that should be heard on main stream media, thus Storify was created.

By searching for specific links to the story I was trying to curate, I was able to discover a broad range of opinions on the topic. I was able to discover videos that told elements of the story from one perspective and find tweets that told it from another. I pulled this information together creating an interesting story with lots of opinion, while adding in my own thoughts in between.

The problem with Storify though, is that its just linking information together from social media without any verification. You are trusting the sources you get your information from to build up a picture to the reader, while this is interesting it could be a dangerous tool for the legitimate journalist. The service itself could be useful but anyone can make a Storify story; without checking sources how does the audience know what information to really trust? Personally, I don't see the long term advantages of using it...but it is a fun tool to use and I created some interesting stories using it.

 A modern Journalist must be able to have tools at his disposal to give lots of information but should also be able to verify the legitimacy of the story. If we don't keep this side of journalism at its very core, then there will cease to be a need for 'professional journalists' because anyone can do the job!

Social Media: My Journey, My Thoughts and the Future...

I have been using Facebook personally for many years and have a love-hate relationship with it. I find myself frustrated with the ridiculous things people share with the world. I despair at the one line comments that force people to ask "what's wrong?" 'Is everything ok Hun?" So, suddenly being faced with the task of using Twitter filled me with complete dread, thinking it would be just as bad as Facebook!

My reasons for using Twitter have been purely professional and while it has taken me some time to get it up and running, I am totally amazed at how it is being used in the Journalism industry. I had no idea that the 'world' of tweeting was quite so established.

Twitter is used by Journalists the world over to update, find and deliver stories. The instant delivery of news is what makes the future of Journalism at the heart of social media. In a recent article Mercedes Bunz from The Guardian wrote that "Most Journalists used Social Media as a source." The graph below shows how Journalists within the industry view the importance of Social Media.

The benefits of using platforms like Twitter, is that Journalists can engage with both the general public as well as professionals. This instantly equips the Journalist with many tools at their disposal. 

As a student of Journalism it has benefited me in my studies this semester. I have felt far more informed about current issues than I ever have been before. By following multiple news organisations and Journalists I have been able to get a broader coverage of current topics and as such have been able to develop my own opinion and understanding of the news coverage. This has enabled me to not be biased to any particular organisation or individual, it has also enabled me to Tweet, quote, write and link to many articles of relevance while adding my own reasoned analysis.

I have been able to see the limitations of engaging on Social Media. That as a journalist it is vital to still rely on primary sources and check your facts before you 'retweet' something that could damage your reputation. I think as long as it's used appropriately it is extremely useful in the world of Journalism.

I think it's impossible to predict the future of Social Media and Journalism since everything changes so quickly, but having a direct link to the public and professionals in such an instantaneous way suggests that the future is going to be a partnership between the two across a wide range of industries, not least of which will be Journalism.