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Blogging basics

Blogging basics . “ Beatblogging ” . Build a social network around a traditional reporting beat, and bring stakeholders on that particular beat together. Then, lead, coax, and weave a discussion and see what they say to one another. . Why blogs?.

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Blogging basics

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  1. Blogging basics

  2. “Beatblogging” • Build a social network around a traditional reporting beat, and bring stakeholders on that particular beat together. Then, lead, coax, and weave a discussion and see what they say to one another.

  3. Why blogs? • Every college journalist should keep a blog; showcase work • A good blog is a continuing conversation • You facilitate it, but if it works, your audience may dominate it • If that happens, you win! So does your news organization • Blogs are not magic • Writing a successful blog takes dedication and determination • A blog is simply a form of communication now essential to news organizations • Blogging can help you cover a beat and build a loyal community of readers whose interactions contribute to your coverage

  4. Basics • Fast • Interactive • A different way to publish content • Definitions of a blog: • Frequently updated with entries in reverse chronological order • Each entry, post, has a headline and body. Most entries include links to other news and information on the Web and many contain photos/graphics • Contains a link for comments to let readers post thoughts

  5. Why are blogs important? • Information revolution • Changed web publishing • Changed journalism • Accountability of writer • Interactions • Consumers of news no more • Citizen journalism

  6. Becoming a blogger • Before you write, you need to read to understand this medium • Scan the top 100 blogs at Technorati.com • Find blogs that cover a subject related to your beat • RSS feed and blog rolls on Word Press • Learn the language • Post: an entry on a blog • Permalink: a link available on each post that provides direct access to that post, usually with comments visible. Helpful to other bloggers to link directly to a given post or e-mail link to a friend. • Trackback (or pingback): mechanism for communication between blogs; helps readers follow a conversation • Blogroll: collection of links usually found at the sidebar; to inform readers of the sites the writer visits • Vlog: blog with video commentary (aka video blog) • Moblog : blogging from a mobile device

  7. Make a plan, create a blog • Research your beat and read other blogs covering similar subjects • Determine the goal of your blog • Be sure you communicate to readers your purpose and goal • Name and theme choices • To create a basic plan, answer these questions: • What will you name your blog? • What is a good short description of or catchphrase for your blog? • What will you write about in your blog? What is its mission (2-3 sentences)?

  8. Customize appearance • Basic CCS (Cascading Style Sheet) to customize the look • On the Dashboard: • Page Elements • Fonts and colors • Edit HTML • Pick new template • Widgets • Extras • Custom image header • Edit CCS

  9. Top 10 Blogs (as of 2009) • Huffington Post • TechCrunch • Mashable • Gizmodo • Engadget • The Official Google Blog • Boing Boing • Lifehacker • ArsTechnica • TMZ.com

  10. Building an audience • Put the reader first • Organize your ideas • Be direct • Be the authority, with a personality (and even sense of humor) • Writing is more fun when someone is reading it • Regularly publish high-quality posts • Write effective headlines • Participate in your community

  11. Building an audience: Readability • Make your posts scanable; use bullets, breaks, etc. • Use different typographical techniques • Link, summarize, analyze • Attribution is important, and in a blog, attribution is the LINK • Sprinkle with links to other sites, news articles, blogs, etc. • Be specific with headlines • Include keywords to increase search results • Have a good attitude • When in doubt, ask for readers opinions • Enjoy yourself! Do not worry about the number of readers…. • Use photos and screenshots • Would you read a newspaper or magazine with NO photos? Nope. • http://search.creativecommons.org • On Flickr, you can check the only search for creative commons option • Brush up: http://w2.eff.org/bloggers/lg/faq-ip.php

  12. Activity • 1.) Find three blogs that cover topics you find interesting and determine: • - each blog’s biggest strength • - how each blog plays to that strength • - how each blog builds community through interactions and links • 2.) Complete the quick plan: • - what will you name your blog? • - what is a good, short description of or catchphrase for your blog? • - what will you write about in your blog? The mission (2-3 sentences) • 3.) Create a blog • 4.) Post to your blog (“About Me”) • 5.) Add a blog roll • 6.) Join a community (make three comments on any of the blogs that you are now following)

  13. Resources • Copywriting: http://www.copyblogger.com/copywriting-101/ • Keywords http://www.copyblogger.com/keyword-research/ • Blogs on blogging: • Copyblogger.com • Problogger.net • Weblogs.about.com

  14. Word Press and beat assignments • Let’s get started! • Brainstorm ideas for your beat and get a story idea started • Remember- you may not also have “sources” to interview, depending on your beat, but you should ALWAYS have either a quote or a link. Links replace quotes, and/or can be used in addition to. • You still need an angle • You still need a headline, lead, paragraphs, photos, etc…. • You can use 1st person and present tense (since this is not yearbook writing) • Do not state obvious- be descriptive! (writing mini lesson tomorrow) • Log onto www.wordpress.com and create an account

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