Comments on: What’s your strategy for your online work?

By: Twittering and texting; temptation or turn-off? « According to Rios

Twittering and texting; temptation or turn-off? « According to Rios — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:31:40 +0000

[...] her blog, which is dedicated to teaching online journalism, Mindy McAdams wrote an article regarding the very subject of twittering. The article explores some of the reservations journalism [...]

By: Carmen Sisson

Carmen Sisson — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:05:02 +0000

Thank you for this. You just made me realize why I’m not getting what I want out of Twitter, etc. I’m preaching to the choir instead of hanging out with the people in the back pew.

I followed other journalists because what they’re saying about convergence, multimedia, and the future of journalism matters to me. But I’m tweeting their links and talking about those issues. Why would the people I really want to reach care? They won’t. They don’t. No wonder crowdsourcing isn’t working for me.

I wanted to position myself as a Southern journalist with a keen understanding of the challenges our region faces. I wanted an editor sitting in New York to think of me when he needed a Mississippi story. I wanted to talk to the local people, the people I write about every day, and engage them on a new level.

I wanted to become better at what I do. To maximize every tool available to tell the stories that are important to me.

As much as I love other journalists, I’m hanging out with the wrong crowd.

By: Bookmarks for August 25th through September 20th by andydickinson.net

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:03:26 +0000

[...] Teaching Online Journalism » What’s your strategy for your online work? – A great post by Mindy about working out why you do what you do online and what you want to get from it should be linked. quot;So whether you’re writing a blog, or tweeting, or posting Delicious bookmarks (I mark many of my bookmarks personal, or “not shared”), or lifestreaming, give some thought to the audience. If you want a site or venue to be personal, intended for a small circle of people you know, then write accordingly. If you want to cultivate your reputation as an analyst of East Asian economics, then you’re going to be writing about (and linking to) entirely different stuff.quot; [...]

By: Mallory Kydd

Mallory Kydd — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:11:24 +0000

Thanks Mindy for another good post, especially one that inspired such conversation. I agree with Michelle on the topic of twittering. Instead of drifting off into LaLaLand or trying to strike up useless conversation with someone next to you who is obviously too busy to speak with you anyway- twittering during lunch periods has proven to be productive, entertaining and boost your social life. Like Michelle, I also try to take time to find people who are tweeting about journalism and digital innovation and now I get great links and ideas every day. However I now keep in mind her point about who my followers are and why they follow me. It’s not as if I post self serving things over twitter. I use it as a conversation starter and way to network. It’s meant to be done on the fly, which is why I take such enjoyment tweeting over a subway sandwich and chips.

By: links for 2009-09-16 | Joanna Geary

links for 2009-09-16 | Joanna Geary — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:01:34 +0000

[...] What’s your strategy for your online work? Figure out what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Another way to put it: Who is your audience, or who do you want to be in your audience? Who is this for? There’s an old creative-writing maximum that goes something like this: If you write only for yourself, you’re likely to have an audience of one. (tags: journalism socialmedia twitter blogging) [...]

By: Notes from a Teacher - Saturday squibs

Notes from a Teacher - Saturday squibs — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:39:59 +0000

[...] What’s your strategy for your online work? Mindy McAdams strikes again, this time with a post that can help you figure out what to do online, and why that matters. [...]

By: Mindy McAdams

Mindy McAdams — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:12:20 +0000

Thanks for the comments! A lot of people have liked the “Do you even know why you’re doing what you’re doing?” question.

I think maybe when you first start something new, you DON’T know. You’re just trying it out. But after a while, if you’re sticking with it (whatever it is), you ought to have figured out what IT is good for, and the most effective way to use IT for your business, your journalism, your personal life — whatever.

Otherwise, quit using IT!

By: Laura Click

Laura Click — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:57:01 +0000

Great post! I think the people who criticize Twitter the most are likely the ones who don’t understand it. Twitter didn’t start off with a great approach. The “what are you doing” question certainly invokes images of the “here’s what I’m having for lunch” tweets. Those who take the time to give Twitter a try and really learn what it’s all about, soon discover that it’s much more about content sharing and having a conversation with like-minded folks. I just wrote a blog post “Top 6 Reasons to Try Twitter” as a way to educate new Twitter users and help others decide to take the plunge: http://lauraclick.com/2009/09/top-six-reasons-to-try-twitter/

Once you understand Twitter a bit better, then yes, it’s imperative to create your own policy on how to use it. Great analysis!

By: Michele McLellan

Michele McLellan — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:59:36 +0000

Thanks for this Mindy. I think you do need a strategy for deciding who you follow. The ones who complain about people who tweet their lunches are following the wrong people. I try to take time to find people who are tweeting about journalism and digital innovation and now I get great links and ideas every day. Also, it’s important when you tweet to think about who your followers are and why they follow you. I tweet mostly about journalism, often RT’ing great links. I think people follow me because I’m about journalism on Twitter. So why would I post my lunch!
Thanks for a great post.

By: Sara McConnell

Sara McConnell — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:22:51 +0000

Thanks for the post – it inspired me to post http://predocsblog.blogspot.com/ about what I’m trying to do with blogs and Twitter. And I’ll pass on your advice to our students, many of whom think that Twitter is either weird or a waste of time (as do most of my departmental colleagues). I’m determined that’s all going to change this academic year