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Everything To Know About Social Media And Radio in 222 Words
February 7, 2017
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There is a New York Times piece written by Margaret Sullivan that I covered a couple of years ago.
Sullivan was teaching a class called "Audience and Engagement," which had to do with journalism on social platforms, at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Sullivan created two lists that we should have pinned on every door we enter at work, and maybe even at home.
I recently stumbled on the piece and found it just as relevant now then when she wrote it.
Her first list is social media perspective.
Her second list is about what it takes to succeed in journalism. But if we replace the J-word with radio, it holds up very well.
I hope you find both of her lists worth reading - or re-reading - and sharing.
About social media:
- No road rage; walk away from the keyboard.
- Be useful.
- Be responsive.
- Be willing to correct and acknowledge errors immediately.
- Show restraint; remember that you are posting to The World. Forever.
- Read every link before re-tweeting or re-posting.
- It's a tool, not an end in itself.
About radio:
- Don't cut corners. Do the actual work.
- If you "borrow," always credit with a link and a specific mention, and always write in your own words.
- You can lose your reputation and your career in an instant.
- Despite that, don't be timid. Be brave; just don't be brave and stupid.
- Ask for advice from smart people.
- Do the work that improves the world, even in a small way.
- Don't sink to least-common-denominator.
- A little snark goes a long way.
- Think more about fairness than objectivity.
- Put yourself in the place of the people who will be affected by your work.
- Be rigorous. Go the extra mile.
- Get to be really good at one or two things. And get to be decently good at a whole bunch of things.
- If you screw up, apologize fully and move on.
- Try to work for someone great.
- Whatever help you've received in your career, pay it forward.
- Be idealistic. Resist cynicism.
- You are not in this business for the money, so what are you in it for? Do that work.
What would you add to either list?
It may be fun to get your team together and create your own lists.
Guiding principles are especially important in this day. Things are moving so fast.
We can get caught up in the day to day and miss the truths of social media, and more importantly, principles that should be driving our careers.
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