Tweet, Tweet, then beat

Who knows how long Twitter will be the hot social media currency. It continues its meteoric climb in usership, and you can check user statistics here. Whether you think it's relevant or not to obtain a Twitter account, one thing is for sure--someone you know is Twittering. That person is most likely a Facebook friend. And they just put the kids to bed. Just read their wall. The fascinating details are all there.

Now, if you want to read real news and stimulate your brain, it's possible to achieve both on Twitter. A grad student at DePaul Unversity started a website a few months ago called BreakingTweets.com. It is a news gathering site, where by using Twitter search engines, they report on international news, mostly breaking news. Something happens in the Middle East overnight in the US, traditional media can't, won't cover it. That doesn't mean there isn't a thirst and desire for this type of news.

Thanks to technology, BreakingTweets.com can learn about a story happening in real time, search for eyewitness accounts of a story while also aggregating reaction from those impacted by a news event. The site was sourced by Sky News in one of their online stories about an attempted shooting on the Queen of Holland. The site beat conventional news outlet BBC with the story. Read the riveting account of what happened here.

Technology+Social Media+Journalism=Innovation.

Have a Tweeterific day.

Success Leaves Clues

You've seen her on ESPN First Take, duking it out with the insufferable Skip Bayless. You've read her columns on ESPN.com, where she has distinguished herself as a no-nonsense reporter. Now you see Jemele Hill posing with me, your insufferable blog editor (I gave her no choice as I staked out the lobby like a crazed fan).

I attended a seminar this past weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida where Jemele spoke. She has quite a story--coming up from the streets of Detroit, moving up the newspaper ranks before landing at ESPN a few years ago. After listening to her speak and spending some time with her, one word keep creeping into my consciousness--genuine. As a journalist, I always admired her authenticity. Once you meet her and listen to her speak, that quality is no act--she's a real and down to earth in person as she comes across in her writing and on television. That's not an easy transistion, but it is a common thread amongst successful people.

The ability to not only be in touch with who you are--am I compassionate? Am I humble? Am I a fair?--but the talent to channel that sense of self outwardly is what attracts people to or away from you. In journalism it is essential to survival--being hated is preferred over indifference. So ask yourself this question- how well am I in touch with my own values? And how can I best share those values through my work?

If you are looking for a good example, just check out Jemele Hill's work on ESPN.

Newton's Law

Covering a war is pretty heavy stuff. Not only must you dodge the noise--bullets, bombs and bust ups--you must also get the story.

This past weekend in Indianapolis, I sat in on a presentation by Jeff Newton (he's on the right), a producer with 60 minutes. Newton's primary job at CBS is covering wars--as a cameraman, reporter and producer. Since 1992, he has done stories in 66 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Newton works primarily with correspondent Lara Logan, although he has also worked on pieces with Scott Pelley, Bob Simon and Dan Rather.

He gave the nuts and bolts about equipment--always have plenty of batteries--but he also shared intriguing insights on how journalists or anyone in any industry should think about their craft. Whether you are a beat reporter covering city hall in Gary, Indiana, covering politics in Columbus or running a software company in Toronto, they are principles that are impactful, no matter what your business.

I wanted to share 3 of Newton's Laws:

1. Don't let resources keep you from the story. Jeff shared an anecdote where he was called away on Christmas for a breaking news event in the Middle East. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and an AMEX card. He hopped on a plane anyway. You can always get what you need on the way.

2. Less is more. Too many characters can make for a noisy story. Overloading a piece with too many interviews will drive away your audience. Learn the art of cutting.

3. It's always the story that matters. Don't get bogged down what you don't have. It doesn't matter. Great storytelling is often hatched from the jaws of limited resources. Find great people. They are your muse.

Anyone want to add to this?

Do you have a 'Newton's Law' of your own?

Mentorship=Success

In 1996, I was a first-time television reporter working in Augusta, Georgia. I had the basic skills I needed to acquire the job--I could write to video relatively well and thanks to really good face powder, in the looks department, I was passable on camera. What I didn't have was self-confidence, a product of being a rookie reporter. What I needed was experience. And I got it, thanks to a man named Byron Grandy.

Byron saw something in me no one else did. He threw me into situations where he knew I would be uncomfortable, just so I would gain the experience. Leaning how to fail is essential before you can appreciate success. Byron taught me how to fail forward, not backwards. They were lessons that can only come from a mentor.

As part of our weekly innovator series, we interviewed Grandy, currently General Manager of KMGH-TV, the ABC affiliate in Denver, CO. Here is a portion of the interview, the rest we will post later in the week.

What was your first job?

My first paying job was at KBTX-TV in Bryan, TX. I made just over 3 dollars an hour but loved every minute of it. I hounded the ND at the station for weeks, calling with story ideas and to let him know I was available to cover things for them in the neighboring town I was living. I think the ND just got tired of hearing from me and hired me. I appreciate what he did.

Who was a mentor for you in the business? What did they teach you?

All of my bosses have been mentors. I have learned much from all of these leaders. They have taught me the lesson of “to have real power is the ability to empower others.” You must understand you’re not going to do it alone so you must be involved with others. They have taught me the value of compassion in leadership. To make sure you are there for them in the tough times not just the good. I have learned the value of listening and collaboration.

How did your career evolve on the track it is on today?

Who knows. I was a TV weatherman in 1983 and now they let me run a TV station. I’m not sure there is a track. You just work hard each day, learn what you can and look for the job that you enjoy and are challenged in. I’ve always told people you can do whatever you want in this business. You just have to get going and keep your eyes open. After years as a reporter I wanted to have impact on more than just the story I was doing so I got in to managing newsrooms. After years of that, I liked the challenge of running a business so I set my sights on the GM job.


Byron is not only a mentor to many, he has a few innovative ideas on journalism moving forward, and we will share those with you in our next post.

Innovative Journalists Series: Steve Foster

This week is the first of a series on innovative journalists. The idea is to publicize journalists who are pushing invention, injecting entrepreneuriship at a time when the industry is in dire need of new concepts. This week we publish an excerpt from a Q & A Innovative Journalists did with Steve Foster, former online sports editor of the now defunct Rocky Mountain News. Steve, along with dozens of his former collegues, are launching a new venture, which you can read about at length here in a terrific story by Poynter's Steve Myers.

I asked Steve about who his first mentor was, when he first noticed change in the industry and what innovations are needed to keep it relevant.

Who was a mentor for you in the business? What did they teach you?

John Temple, the editor and publisher of the Rocky Mountain News, has been key to my career. Without him, I would have not come back to the Rocky Mountain News and found myself at this odd nexus of closings and openings. He helped me understand how important it is to not get locked into doing one thing and to always be open to changing jobs, changing visions to match the work needed to be done.

How do you feel about the industry today? When did you notice a shift in consumer habits?

We’re at a crossroads. Journalism has been gradually, steadily slipping out of the hands of journalists and communities. More independent journalists are providing news, but while some of them are good and actually report new news, most are merely reacting to what others’ report. So the quality has been dropping, but more importantly, the connection to the community has been eroding along with it. We need to bring the community back to the coverage, stop reporting as if we’re talking down to the public, and listen and talk to our readers. As for when I noticed a change in customers habits: when I started reading news online for two hours in the morning before I picked up the newspaper from my doorstep.

What innovations are necessary in order to keep journalism viable?

It isn’t so much innovation that’s need as better application. People are getting their news in new ways, and doing so at a much faster rate then newsroom developers can keep up. The idea of a dedicated mobile site is a mystery to many newsrooms, yet a large number of page views come from mobile phones. Newsrooms need to keep up and apply the technology that their readers already want to use.