Foreign news correspondents, local beat editors and cameramans: How you can use social media

It doesn’t matter what your role in the newsroom is—social media is affecting how you research and produce stories. With that change comes adaptation and growth, but change is always difficult, especially in an industry that is so rooted in tradition, accuracy and prestige. But in order to relate an audience that has submerged itself into social media, newsrooms across the world are working toward changing their office cultures. Currently, social media is often encouraged but not required for newsroom roles. However, I would argue that almost every person in the newsroom would benefit from using social media. Below, I share why a foreign news correspondent, local beat editor and cameraman at TV news station should be on social media.

Foreign News Correspondent

A foreign news correspondent can use social media to build a following, research stories, contribute to trending stories, post live updates and engage in conversations.

Foreign news correspondents thrive on reader support, and thus, they can use social media to build a devoted following. I regularly discover new journalists on Twitter—journalists that I never would’ve heard of elsewhere. However, because they post informative, engaging and valuable content, I follow them and support their work. That support becomes invaluable during an international conflict, such as the time NBC News Foreign Correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin was told to leave Gaza amid breaking news coverage. After an uproar among his supporters, he was allowed to return to the conflict zone.

When it comes to stories, correspondents can utilize platforms such as Twitter to perform research and find user-generated evidence. They can also comment on breaking news stories as well as post live updates from most parts of the world. Most importantly, they can engage other users and fellow correspondents in conversation. These conversations allow them to tell stories, ask for audience feedback, voice their opinions and correct any errors or misunderstandings. 

Local Beat Editor

A local beat editor’s best asset is his or her sources and connections. Social media allows a beat editor to really build an online community of local experts and residents, one that they can immediately cull information from. For example, a local beat editor can build Twitter lists that he or she can pull up when researching a story. Additionally, by “listening” to the people in these lists, a beat editor can scoop the news before anyone else.

Local beat editors can also use social media to find sources. For example, I am Facebook friends with a local beat editor in Detroit who is regularly asking for opinions and sources for her stories.  

Cameraman at TV News

You wouldn’t think that a cameraman at a local news station can utilize social media to his advantage, but he can. Social media analytics can report to the station regarding what types of videos or imagery that the audience is really responding to. Using that information, the cameraman can then craft more engaging stories.

Cameramans are also privilege to a lot of behind-the-scenes goodies, and thus, they can build social media personalities/brands using these behind-the-scenes tidbits, photos or videos.