Got Scoop? DC Reporters Discuss How Social Media Has Changed the Game

how social media is changing the news

Social media may have changed the way news gets reported, but some old school rules still apply.

Namely, if you’re at a meeting and you hear a scoop and no other journalists are in the room – and it never reached Twitter – save that morsel for a story tomorrow.

That’s what Washington Post reporter Aaron Davis says he’s done.

Davis covers DC politics and government and recently sat on a Society of Professional Journalists panel with two others to discuss challenges with covering the District.

“The internet has changed how the entire news operation works,” Davis says, mentioning that the Post always considers timing when publishing a story. “The whole publishing schedule has gone upside down.”

Many Washington Post top stories get pushed online early – around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. – literally when folks are waking up to read the news on their phones. The next chunk of stories gets released just before lunch, when readers again are online to check what’s breaking.

The strategy further intensifies when it comes to holding stories that could publish in the afternoon or whether they’re worth holding for the following morning.

To Print or Not to Print?tips for new journalists

Then there’s the reader experience to consider.

What’s trending online on the Washington Post may not be the same five print stories holding for the front page the next day. Ultimately, what shakes out depends on how the day unfolds, Davis says.

Washington’s not really unique – it’s like any town with a myriad of local stories.

So what wins when it comes to local coverage? You might be tempted to say politics, and while that’s not incorrect, DC is chock full of other news.

Kavitha Cardoza, who covers education with WAMU (FM) Washington and is an adjunct faculty member of American University’s Department of Communication, says the station is adding new beats.

Among them, race and ethnicity now is a beat. Previously, WAMU split up news according to geography, with someone covering DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Washington Post also is keeping a close eye on DC as a city in transition – economically, racially, and socially, Davis says.

“The race issue in DC is a pretty interesting issue,” he said, adding that the city used to have a black majority. “Now, [it’s] a majority of none, but it’s still very segregated.”

Twitter as Your Notebook

Cuneyt Dil, founder of the District Links e-newsletter and freelancer with Washington’s Current newspapers, says he keeps an eye on development-type stories.

Whether it’s the District’s neighborhoods facing a big development or businesses tackling minimum wage or paid leave, Dil always is trying “to find a DC angle.”

The Washington Post’s Davis brought up an analogy another journalist used that once shocked him.

“Use Twitter almost as your notebook,” Davis said. “Tweet the most interesting things, [allowing] readers to learn the facts almost as soon as you learn them. Then go back and craft a story.”

The panel also gave parting advice for new journalists coming into the fold.

  • Build a Twitter following. Have an online profile that speaks to who you are.
  • Write fast. As far as writing goes, you still must be able to grab people; your writing has to hit an editor fast. “Don’t count on the publication to get you better,” Davis says. “You have to get yourself better.”
  • Learn how to do everything. Become familiar with audio and video. Take photographs. Be able to build graphs.
  • Learn your craft. Cardoza added that interning at a print job is critical. “You just have to start with print,” she said. “Sometimes when I see young kids who intern with us and want to be journalists, they’re so focused on social media. But there are basics of journalism that you have to know.”

Subscribe to Beyond Bylines to get media trends, journalist interviews, blogger profiles, and more sent right to your inbox.

[blog_subscription_form]

Christine Cube is a senior audience relations manager with PR Newswire and freelance writer. Follow @cpcube or check out her latest on Beyond Bylines on PR Newswire for Journalists.

You may also like...

45 Responses

  1. I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  2. Saniya Wade says:

    Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated

  3. Saniya Wade says:

    I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles

  4. Evan Reid says:

    I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles

  5. Aliyah Cline says:

    For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.

  6. Kylan Branch says:

    I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles

  7. suika game says:

    I am very glad to find this article on google, thank you for sharing such useful information

  8. Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing

  9. Jimmy Barker says:

    I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!

  10. Arjun Blair says:

    I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  11. Kale Padilla says:

    Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing

  12. This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place

  13. Jay Goodman says:

    I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  14. very informative articles or reviews at this time.

  15. Gerald Lynn says:

    very informative articles or reviews at this time.

  16. Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.

  17. Delaney Koch says:

    This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place

  18. I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will

  19. Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post

  20. I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will

  21. naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.

  22. For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.

  23. Tate Summers says:

    I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.

  24. Delaney Koch says:

    I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!

  25. I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will

  26. Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.

  27. I very delighted to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for as well saved to fav

  28. Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing

  29. Elian Lloyd says:

    I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.

  30. Trent Meza says:

    Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing

  31. Aspen Woods says:

    I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.

  32. This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.

  33. very informative articles or reviews at this time.

  34. Amber Valdez says:

    For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.

  35. Layne Jacobs says:

    I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.

  36. Leila Branch says:

    Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing

  37. I very delighted to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for as well saved to fav

  38. I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.

  39. I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will

  40. Tiny Fishing says:

    Great! Get ready for great games on Tiny Fishing

  41. Berry Esther says:

    In today’s evolving media landscape, old-school journalism tactics still hold sway amidst social media’s rapid news cycle. Washington Post reporter Aaron Davis underscores this, discussing how timing shapes their reporting strategy, aligning with wordle game players eagerly checking for morning updates. This nuanced approach reflects broader shifts in news consumption, balancing digital immediacy with traditional editorial standards.

  1. June 2, 2016

    […] traduzido e adaptado do Blog Beyond Bylines, publicado por Christine Cube no dia 18 de maio de 2016. Christine é Gerente de Relacionamento com […]

  2. June 10, 2016

    […] esto mientras leía Got Scoop? DC Reporters Discuss How Social Media Has Changed the Game en el blog de medios de PR Newswire Beyond Bylines. En el artículo, la gerente senior de […]

  3. September 14, 2016

    […] race issue in DC is a pretty interesting issue,” Davis said, during a panel discussion for the Society of Professional Journalists. “It started a majority of black. Now, it’s a […]

  4. December 28, 2016

    […] issue in DC is a pretty interesting issue,” said Washington Post reporter Aaron Davis, during a Society of Professional Journalists panel in September. “It started a majority of black. Now, it’s a majority of none, but it’s still […]

Leave a Reply