Jane Hirt, managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, is looking for CoJMC students to help her operate a Social Media Newsroom at TEDxYouth@Lincoln on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Lincoln High School.
She is looking for volunteers, specifically reporters, photographers, videographers and others who would like to help on Aug. 17. Beginners are most welcome! So are those who have a bit of journalism experience.
“You can expect to learn tools that professional journalists use in newsrooms today—plus you’ll have some fun,” Hirt said. “I’m sure of it.”
Please send her an email at jjhirt@sbcglobal.net if you can join her, and she’ll send you more information.
Here are the four basic jobs offered in the Social Media Newsroom that day. You can volunteer for part or all of the day.
Reporter, using Twitter:
In this job, the student journalist attends TEDx Youth speeches, tweeting live from the event. These tweets serve as a chronological accounting of what the speakers said, kind of like a reporter’s notes. Except that instead of writing a story and printing a newspaper, we will publish this information in real time via Twitter. At the end of the day, everybody’s tweets will be compiled using Storify.
Required technology: Reporter needs to bring his/her own smart phone or iPad with Twitter app and must have at least a little previous experience using Twitter.
Videographer
In this job, the student journalist will roam the halls and backstage at the TEDx Youth event looking to capture participants’ and speakers’ thoughts and ideas. Some videographers will take videos that last 1-2 minutes. Other videographers will be assigned to take very short videos (6 seconds and under) to be shared on the Vine social media platform.
Required technology: Reporter needs to bring his/her own video-capable smart phone or iPad and must know how to shoot a video and email it somewhere.
Photographer
In this job, the student journalist will shoot photos during the TEDx Youth event, including the speeches, participants and speakers. These images will be published via Facebook, Twitter and the TEDx Youth Lincoln web site. Those interested can even create photo galleries of the day.
Required technology: Photographer needs to bring his or her own smart phone or iPad. If using a digital camera, photographer must bring necessary means to transmit these photos digitally.
Helper in the social media newsroom
In this job, the volunteer journalist will help do whatever needs to be done in the social media newsroom. This could include helping volunteers with technology, posting information to the TEDx Youth web site, serving as a runner, and many other important tasks.
Required technology: None!