Luke O'Neill: Ace Journalist and Social Media Specialist!

Meet Luke O'Neill (@lukeoneill). Journalist and well, easily one of the most interesting people to follow on Twitter. Before this interview, I knew very little, okay honestly, nothing about him. However, after following him on Twitter post our small introduction, I quickly learned heaps about journalism and even more about Social Media's role in modern day journalism. What I received in the form of answers to my questions, was advice and words of wisdom that we, as budding writers, could definitely use. Take a read. Oh and I suggest you follow him on Twitter...now! Okay, now seriously, read.

When did you realize that you wanted to be a journalist?
Probably in the summer of 2006. I was nearing the end of a Bachelors Degree in Journalism at Dublin City University and at that time had the opportunity to work as an intern at the Irish Times. I broke a couple of my own stories as a newsroom reporter, after developing a good relationship with sources across the government spectrum. I suppose that initial taste of adventure, public service and luck drew me in.

What steps did you take in order for you achieve your writing goals?
I wrote for whoever I could wherever I could, often for free. I treated the littlest and largest subjects with the same respect and hoped I would get noticed. (I’m still doing this).

How did you decide which type of writing you wanted to partake in?
Like most graduate journalists, I did not have the luxury of picking and choosing. You go wherever the work is and hope eventually to end up where you want to be through a mix of luck and perseverance. I’ve emigrated twice to find work in journalism: first to London and then to Sydney.

What has changed over the period of time that you have been writing?
Good writing is becoming scarcer and less appreciated. Journalists, myself included, are still learning that there is a difference between writing for print and new media.

Is blogging, in your opinion, journalism?
This is a recurring and oft misphrased question. Blogging is a platform. It depends what a person does with it. If someone is using a blog to source, verify, report, analyse and dissect information, then sure, blogging is journalism. The phoney bloggers-versus-journalists war doesn’t interest me. We can all work together as part of community that curates, collects and breaks new information.

What are some blogs you personally choose to follow?
Jeff Jarvis, The Failed Estate (see @mrdenmore), Jay Rosen and Storyful.

What is journalism’s place in Social Media today?
I believe it has a central place. PR and marketing professionals would have you think different. Our places within social media spaces is the same as it is within government, courts, crime: we’re there to report, cultivate contacts, debunk misinformation and bring the news to people who engage with it. What’s most important about our place in social media is engagement. Guess what? It’s okay to talk to readers.

Where do you see the future of journalism headed with regards to Social Media?
I wouldn’t be so bold to make a prediction on the ‘future of journalism’. I would hope that news organisations will, small and large, will begin to weave SM into the fabric of news. For examples of people moulding a potential future, see Storyful.com.

We’ve seen a decline in paper publications – especially newspapers. Is this a problem or a blessing?
It’s a problem for journalists who haven’t got new skills. It’s not a problem for the audience, they will go where the news is.

How does this change the idea of ethics in journalism? You need to act in as ethical a manner as before. I have noticed a tendency of media to take content form Twitter without attribution. If someone has taken a good photo or sourced good information (that can be verified thoroughly), then they deserve the credit.

Which is your preferred Social media platform and why?
I use Twitter most. I enjoy the interactions and it acts as a personal news wire.

How do you feel about journalists tweeting and learning about news via Twitter?
Do it or die. Honestly, if you’re not on it and using it you face professional detriment.

Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? There are many. In Australia, @Colvinius is excellent as is @garethoconnor in Ireland.

How has Social Media changed your work?
It’s broadened my network and led me to new sources and collaborators.

How do you see Social Media evolving in the future keeping your career in mind?
Well, it’s a new frontier for news. I wouldn’t discount the possibility of the paywall debate emerging for news-based Twitter accounts.

The Final Shpeel

Social Media:The Top 10!
I walked into this Social Media class – late and rather worried. For starters, I didn’t know what was left to learn about the Social Media world, that I didn’t already know. I had a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn account. “What more did I need to know?” I asked myself. Anyhow, my fascination with Social Media forced me to wander into this class. From then on, this class has been the biggest life changing – I kid you not, experience of my life. To count just 10 things that I learned from this course is rather hard because I learned more than just a mere ten. But here we go, I’ll take a stab:

1. Social Media is constantly evolving – just when you think you’ve learned it all, you’re enlightened with yet another aspect that was unknown to you.


2. Networking is key.


3. All Social Media platforms are different, unique and useful in their own ways.


4. Joining groups connects you with like-minded people.


5. Never underestimate the power of LinkedIn – this was the biggest revelation to me. I have a newfound respect for this particular platform.


6. The world has never been so small. Social Media brings people together and thus, you always only a wall post, a tweet, a click away.


7. Social Media is now literally at your fingertips. With Smart Phones and iPads being a thing of the future, you always connected.


8. Social Media is ahead of any news channel or website even. Twitter, being the number one place to go to for real time information, has proved that as a platform, it’s news is updated quicker.


9. Keywords make all the difference!


10. It’s a package deal! Social Media is all about informing yet entertaining, linking yet connecting. It isn’t used for one single purpose and depending on how you utilize it, it can prove to be as influential in your life.

The Future of Journalism and Social Media
In my opinion, journalism is evolving on a daily basis. But it is shifting because Social Media has such an important impact on it. They really are, in my opinion too closely interconnected now; one cannot function without the other. I remember as a young girl watching television shows about newspapers. It was so hands-on; writers running from place to place looking for ideas and pitches which would take time to follow through with. Of course, there was no sign of Social Media or networking then. Whatever connections you managed to gain using your own personal methods became ones you would hold on to and hope would give you great leads.  Nowadays, that is hardly the case. Using Social Media, journalists are aware immediately through the Social Media “grapevines” of events that are newsworthy. They can then jump on the bandwagon and get on board to exploit and sensationalize the information. In fact, Twitter has literally become every journalist’s best friend. This particular form of Social Media works superbly for writers as it allows them to get a feel for arguments and ideas that are circulating within the “public”. They can connect with one another via LinkedIn to support each other and so on. What I particularly feel most passionately about with regards to journalism in the future, is that it is on its way to become remote. Nowadays, publications and newspapers are more than excited to take on board writers who are not in the local vicinity. They understand the need for local reporting straight from the source and thus, it makes a world of a difference if you have a writer who is in the eye of a storm. Social Media is definitely changing the way news is being reported and will continue to do so.

Social Media and Me
I personally will never look at Social Media the same ever again. It was a sheer “fun and games” platform for me which I used to network no doubt, but never looked at so deeply until this course happened to me. This course has taught me a number of skills that I believe will only help further my journalism journey. As I continue in my pursuit to becoming a top-notch writer, I know that all my skills in utilizing Social Media correctly will help to further my career. The impact it will have on my future, I’ll only know then but it has already had an impact in personal future…right now!

Welcome to Bollywood!

You’ve probably heard the term but are totally unaware as to what on earth Bollywood. Yes, it is a name that has been ripped off the American film industry but you have to head to the opposite hemisphere to get a load of India’s answer to cinema, Bollywood – a term that is derived from Hollywood but since the hub to films in India was Bombay (now Mumbai), it was mixed to create Bollywood. I’ve been a fan since I can remember. Growing up away from India, it was my only way to feel connected. In many ways, it has molded me to become the person I am today: patriotic, emotional and well, screwed in many ways. Bollywood has set some seriously unrealistic expectations for love and men. But getting back to basics, the Hindi film industry is hardly a new phenomenon.

While the first film to come out of India was a silent one back in 1913, it wasn’t the first film that local Indians were introduced to. According to a renowned site, Bollywood Tourism, “The year was 1896, and thanks to the country’s colonial rulers, it was the Lumiere Brothers who introduced the art of cinema to the sub-continent. Bombay, as it was then called, was the first Indian city to screen Cinematography, six short films by these cinematic pioneers.”  Very quickly after, Bollywood was established and created its own niche filled with song and dance, emotion and drama.

As it moved quickly from silent films to the “talkies” era, the technology used rapidly modernized. As the country gained independence from the British, it’s films went into what was known as the “Golden Age”. “But it was the Golden Age – 1950s and 1960s – that produced some of India’s most critically acclaimed films and memorable actors of all time,” Bollywood Tourism explains further. This is true as some of the most prevalent and classic Hindi films came from this era. In fact, some of Bollywood’s biggest stars were made during this time.

Things changed as time went on and what then developed was the “Masala” (spice) generation. Films became a lot more entertaining as more money was poured into the filmmaking process. The idea of India being depicted as a fashion-forward started during the late seventies and till date is an important facet of filmmaking in India. Currently, Bollywood is a globally known industry. Films from India compete at an international level not only because the stories tend to be different but because of their commercial value too. Right now, Indian cinema is going through yet another transition – the Gloss Epoch. Films from India are not only being featured worldwide but actors from the Bollywood are being called to work in different acting industries across the planet.


What sets Bollywood apart from Hollywood, besides the length, (Hindi films range from 2 to 3 hours long) and the song and dance routine, are the numbers. “Hollywood produces 500 films per year on average and has a worldwide audience of 2.6 billion whereas Bollywood produces more than 1000 (not consistently) films every year and has a worldwide audience of 3 Billion. In terms of viewership, Bollywood overtook Hollywood in 2004 and has been leading ever since,” claims Mutiny. Interestingly, Hollywood also recognizes that Bollywood is no longer its competition but understands and knows that Bollywood is now the capital of cinema in the world. However, this doesn’t mean that Hollywood is a thing of the past. “Hollywood has an overwhelming domination among the top grossers worldwide – almost all of the top 50 movies are made in Hollywood.” (Mutiny) The west has its own developed idea of cinema which is undeniably one that cannot be imitated but that doesn’t mean to say that Bollywood should be shunned.

What Bollywood offers to its fans is 3 hours of escapism, music and dance which are sung all over the world by Indians near and far. It seems to be only getting bigger and better with time. And to give you some trivia into how big Bollywood stars are, the biggest star in India, Shah Rukh Khan has more than fans than hottie Tom Cruise. #BollywoodisBetter

Social Media on OBL!

If you think the media is all over OBL’s death, then you’ll be in for a surprise as to how the Social Media world has reacted. They went from strength to strength with the amount of information they provided. It became almost impossible to keep up with tweets (5,106 tweets per second reportedly), with information, with Facebook links and posts. And there is no doubt in how genuine the information being thrown our way was at that point. It was information that was not being provided to us by any other outlet and thus, it became hot news. It all of course, began with a “mistaken” tweet which led to the wires going fanatical with unknown, unsourced information. I’m not sure how legitimate the information we receive via Social Media is but I do know that even news channels and publications are taking to the information they receive and see on Social Media sites. They are acting on it and following up on it as soon as they can to verify it before publishing it on their sites.

How is it affecting news? Well it is actually making news, believe it or not. Social Media is a source of news nowadays. Information filters from person to person and then straight to Social Media. In this case, yet again, it was no different. Mashable went on to poll the very question: “How did you hear of the death of OBL?” The results depicted that close to 30% of those who voted “heard” the information through Twitter. This was the largest number with Facebook coming a close second at 20%. This speaks for itself. The television is no long a single source of information for big news. Welcome to the new age!

Media Junkies on OBL

Needless to say, like the rest of the world, I too was ecstatic when I heard about the demolition of a man who caused the world to be afraid: Osama Bin Laden. The world has reacted, for the most part, with happiness. The idea of “being able to sleep peacefully” was reiterated by people, writers and bloggers everywhere. What I found most interesting was the celebration that took place in the country. While most would feel this kind of celebration is rather morbid, people in the country, who had lost family, friends and citizens, felt the need to rejoice over the death of a man who showed zero remorse. And yet, there were a few Americans who were slightly disgusted by the merry-making. Renowned CNN religious columnist, Stephen Prothero, “cringed” when he saw people waving flags at landmark sites such as Ground Zero and Times Square, New York. He went on to talk about how he bought up his hesitation of the partying over a piece of news that was worthy of salutation but did people really need to take to the streets? What I found interesting was the fact that of course, he too is an American, but even then felt the need to express his feelings. He was reminded quickly by his students that the Muslim world did exactly the same when 9/11 occurred. But then again, that is them…so how are we any different then?

And then there was the next take, how Osama and Obama really have much in common, believe it or not. The “mythos” according to, Larbi Sadiki of Al Jazeera, explained how both leaders were shared much more than just a difference of a single letter in their names. One is deemed, the “hunter” (Obama) while the other is the “hunted” (Osama), both chiefs of different ideals, both iconic, and both in positions of power, one alive, and the other dead. But a running theme that keeps cropping up is the idea of the civilized world celebrating a death. It seems that people cannot understand why this is a celebratory situation. While yet again we are reminded that the Muslim world has always cheered when America was hurt and struggling courtesy of them, it doesn’t seem to work when the roles are reversed. We, are a civilized educated society, and they are looked at as the quite the opposite. “Celebration of fallen enemies – without self-reflection – may be no more worthy than celebrating a victory at a football match,” he concludes.

But if there is anyone who has truly benefited from the death and eradication of Osama is the big O himself, President Obama. He has earned himself bragging rights as the only successful president who went out there, used his intelligence, took a risk and well, succeeded. “He did not simply go for bombs or drones but rather a helicopter raid. One insider is quoted as saying that Black Hawk Down was mentioned a few times in the discussions,” writes Mark Mardell of BBC. And what immediately came to everyone’s mind as soon as the news broke was Obama’s re-election. The death of Osama, everyone believes, almost assures his re-election and another term as the President of America. “It assures no such thing. Apart from the obvious point that there can be many other unexpected events that will have an impact, positive or negative; it just doesn't work like that. However huge this event snow seems, wait a couple of months. In the relentless frenzy of the 24-hour media cycle, it will probably be half forgotten by the time of the election,” the writer writes. This speaks volumes about the media today. Using the word, “frenzy” clearly depicts the manner in which we allow information to literally swoop past us. Yes, he is the flavor of the moment, but this is so true; come election time, will we really remember this epic victory? And yes, it is huge but is it enough for us to forget about other boiling issues which the country has had to endure up until now?

A piece of information I’d like to point out which is rather interesting is that while we relied on the American media for the initial news, it is the Indian media that has been on the ball with information. Last night, I read about how the entire operation went down and only heard it 12 hours later did the American media come out with the raw particulars on the operation. Pretty interesting. I believe it may have something to do with the close proximity to India and of course, the number of internal sources that are in Pakistan.

Osama is dead and whether like myself you have dying questions, the media is having a field day with it and in all honesty, who can blame them? What is most interesting is that the information is still coming in. As a media junkie, I’m on the biggest high of my life.

How I Heard about OBL!

For me, it wasn’t Social Media that broke the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death; it was my Blackberry Messenger, which if you think about it, is also a form of Social Media since a lot of the information that comes through it, is in real time. The minute I actually thought there may be an element of truth to the messages, I turned on CNN at logged onto Facebook and Twitter. Lo and behold, it was all true. It was rather odd because for the most part, I am always logged onto one or both, Social Media platforms. However, at that very moment, I decided to take a break from staring at my laptop screen and at that precise time, the news erupted. It pretty much spread like wildfire then. Facebook statuses went into overdrive as everyone felt the need to let their social circles know about this possible death. Twitter went into massive overhaul as the number of updated tweets was impossible to refresh – that was the speed at which information was being shoved in our faces. In fact what I found most astonishing was that not only were all Social Media sites providing us with speedy facts but they happened to be more on top of it than even the news channel’s who had no choice but to turn to Twitter for updated information too.

Interestingly, tweeps and Facebookers were posting any information they could find from various sources quickly and efficiently not just before The President’s speech but even during. As he briefed the world on what had just happened, people were already tweeting parts of his speech to the word claiming that this was indeed a historic day for the world.

The Use of Social Media

I read a rather interesting article about the different ways in which journalists are using Social Media. The first way in which they are using it is by networking. It’s not just about “linking” up with people. It’s about reaching out apparently. For example, some PR agents actually scout for writers by contacting writers via Twitter. They tweet potential writers with information about their product, gadget and even widgets asking them for their advice, take or even an article. Writers, on the other hand, are out to listen to what you, the people, are interested in. In addition, they also use Twitter to connect with people they might not be able to in any other way.

Most writers realize the importance of research. But it’s not the traditional research that they are looking for. It’s of course, important to find information through the internet and secondary sources. However, most writers now understand that using Social Media, they can get first hand primary information from people who are experiencing a situation or can give out information that no one else has.

I find myself scouting for stories all over various Social Media platforms. Most of the time, using Twitter and Facebook, you are able to get an idea as to what people are interested in or what topics are making the rounds. For example, the Royal Wedding seems to be the talk of the town on all Social Media sites and thus, the number of wedding related articles and posts are sky-rocking high. Not surprising of course, since this is one of the hottest topics around Social Media town.

The idea of news being circulated is being questioned by skeptics all over. People even believe that the name, “Social Media” should be changed to “Mass-Media”. But when I think about it, it really is the same. Social Media is about exchanging information. And clearly that is what most journalists need to take advantage of.

How to Practice Facebook

Facebook, in my opinion, is by far one of the smarter Social Media platforms. It isn’t fair to compare but Facebook is definitely one of the easier places to publicize your work. Has it made the life of a journalist and/or writer better? Yes, definitely! Everything about it works wonders for writers. No longer do you need to worry about getting your word out there. Via the post link, journalists can share work, which apparently is one of the rules of Facebook. It’s not just about sharing your own writing on Facebook but work of those you may like or feel is worth a read.

In terms of how it can affect the practice of journalism, well then, it really depends on what you need from Facebook, I believe. For instance, if I wanted to increase traffic to my blog, I would join groups where liked-minded people would read and also share my work. In addition, I could regularly update posts on my own wall.

There are other ways to keep Facebook in the loop as a journalist. The one characteristic that Facebook provides you with which no other Social Media platform does, is allows you to join groups and fan groups. This, I believe, is what makes Facebook so different and unique. As a writer, I want to connect and network with people who like myself, want to increase their viewership and readership too. Thus, the best way is to network. It is a lot easier to network on Facebook because you eliminate the uneasiness that can is evident in person-to-person contact or even via LinkedIn and Twitter.

As a journalist, Facebook has proved to be incredibly helpful in the networking department. Not only that, but it has allowed me to connect with people who have worked in areas that are of a particular interest to me. I find that if one is able to fully utilize Facebook properly, you would be able to help journalists do a lot more with their work.

Facebook and Moi!

I joined Facebook when it was dedicated solely to college students. This meant you needed a college email account and a part of the college system. During that time, Facebook was all about connecting with your friends in college irrespective of their place in the world. Soon of course, Facebook became a place for everyone – age or school no bar. After this, my reason for Facebook changed. I think from then on, Facebook became a “place” where I could connect with my friends and family across the world. It didn’t matter who or where you were, if you had an account, we could keep in touch. In a way, this has been fantastic in connecting myself with cousins and relatives I wouldn’t normally speak to, estranged family and even finding family I didn’t know existed. It has become a hub where everyone is – kind of like your local hangout. With regards to my friends, it’s pretty much the same story. At first it was about finding your close friends, classmates and so on. Now however, I use Facebook to find out about happenings in friends lives, connect with ones who I’ve been out of touch with and so on. We’ve even used Facebook to create a High School class page where all of us can stay in touch and in addition, we even made a page which would help us organize our reunion.

In terms of my journalism and writing, I use Facebook to connect with people who are in the field to network with. I find that sometimes, it is easier to use Facebook to chat with people who are in editorial positions because email is a tad bit too formal. Via Facebook you are able to loosen the rigidness, connect and see how things go. Either way, you allow yourself to be more approachable and honest with what you want exactly. Using Facebook, I’ve been able to network with people who have passed me on to other people and helped me progress in my career. In the same token however, one does have to be weary for fake accounts and also be prepared to be ignored. I know this only too well. Either way, Facebook is a fabulous way to connect and network with some fabulous people.

App Choice: DropBox

I decided to choose DropBox as my app to experiment with and basically, I’ve decided it’s an app I’d like to hold on to. The idea of sharing work has always been a pain especially on days when email doesn’t seem to cooperate or when big documents need to be transferred. Using DropBox is a great alternate way. The idea is simple. It works as remote file that can be accessed by all those who have admission to use DropBox. I had heard of it earlier when my High School Prom team decided to put together a reunion book. We needed a place where we could accumulate all our files, ideas and spreadsheets. While we researched for such an app, we found and thought about DropBox. However, the reunion idea fell through and thus, we dropped DropBox completely.

However, I decided to experiment with it. I asked a friend to share files with me via DropBox and what we found was an easy alternative to emailing nonstop. It works as a hub or central base where files can be stored. Some advantages include 2GB of space which increases as you add more people to be a part of your “family”. It is a secure place to store confidential files too since it uses the internet but uses your computer as its central storage space.  Thus, eliminating the lack of privacy issue that most people get weary about.

It has a number of features which make it easy to use, secure, utilize the space correctly and maintain your work in a single place where it can be updated and saved. Overall, a great app which really should be used by all writers for various reasons.

RSS Feeds vs. Social Media as News Outlets

In response to: How the social evolution has altered my FIR news-gathering process

I totally agree. In fact, I have my RSS feeds hooked up to my email and phone but just the other day, I found myself deleting all my RSS feeds off my phone. The more we use the Social Media, the more useful and perhaps, even easier it becomes to find new information and sometimes even unknown news.

A lot of the time, I find myself finding out about news courtesy of Facebook and Twitter which I use daily. And if you connect with like-minded people, you will often find that they realize that you are a lot like them and thus, will throw news your way. With Facebook of course, you have the option to join groups and so on. This allows you to get information that is pertinent solely to what you like.

However, I will say this. RSS Feeds provide you the option to store and save news that Social Media is unable to do. It works like a database too as it doesn't delete your feeds.

The Scary Rise of the 2nd Internet

In response to David Henderson's "The Scary Rise of the 2nd Internet" :

"WOW! I had no clue there was a differentiation or even a definition that is 1st and 2nd Generation Internet. I think I’m most intrigued by this idea but what I’m fascinated most about is the quick rise of Huffington Post. Considering the fact that the NY Times and Wall Street Journal have been around even before the rise of any form of internet, it definitely is a shocker to see how quickly HP has climbed the charts. I like the idea of how they operate though. It really makes sense to me because a lot of what works for the internet today, is the idea of being interactive. Huffington Post is definitely the most interactive of all news sites online.

While I personally find myself running towards the NY Times first, there are days where I can spend hours just reading what HP has to offer simply because of the fact that they generate news that is heavily searched by search engines. And yes, the most interesting part of all of this, is having the ability to debate the content. Not only can you sit and claim that XYZ is correct or incorrect but can even oust the news because it may just not appeal to your sensibilities.

I’m not sure if I agree with your claim however, that 1st generation internet leaders are “asleep”. I am an avid CNN.com fan but I think that has something to do with the fact that I like them as a newschannel on the television. If they do “wake up” then perhaps, they will be able to catch up. Until they, they’re just left behind while others are racing ahead at an insane speed.

Lovely insight! I’m enlightened!"

The Right Way to Blog!

Personally I love to blog. The idea of being able to publish a piece of work that you believe is worthy of publishing, is something totally profound to me. When I decided to venture out into the world of blogging, I found myself rather confused with how I should begin. A friend and editor of mine said to me, “It’s the best way to work your way into the world of writing.” And with that, I found myself looking for the best portal to begin my blogging. At that time, a few years ago, I discovered that there was hardly any real guidelines as to what’s, how’s, where’s and why’s of blogging. So for my curation assignment, I thought it would be a great idea to aggregate blogging topics and put them in one place so that anyone who wanted to start blogging would have one place to find all the answers.

What is it?

“A blog is basically a type of website, like a forum or a social bookmarking site. As such it is defined by the technical aspects and features around it, and not by the content published inside it.” (What is a Blog?)

“Blogging is creating a useful and informative place full of original content aimed at a certain audience set up as a web page.” (Define a Blog)

The idea is simple when it comes to blogging. A blog is a platform where anyone a writer, professional or amateur, can build content and place it in one particular place. Within a blog, one can find a number of aspects and gadgets that they can use to further enhance their blog and thus, bring more traffic to your blog. This in turn will allow more people to read your work. In addition, a blog need not necessarily be personal. Some choose a particular topic and dedicate their blog to it while others choose a variety.

Best Blogging Platforms

There are a number of platforms that bloggers can use to create a place where their work is properly published. With so many sites readily available to writers, it is often hard to find the best one because each portal offers a number of add-ons that can be useful depending on what you prefer.

“Wordpress has both hosted and self-install versions, both free to use. It's one of the best blogging platforms, and the most popular by far. WP is open source and has a big community of people creating new templates and plugins. The hosted version (Wordpress.com) doesn't allow you to put any ads on your blog, while the self-install one gives you full control over your blog.” (Best Blogging Platforms)

“Blogger is a great free blogging platform from Google that offers nice templates, widgets, mobile blogging, and money making opportunities by displaying AdSense ads on your blog. They also offer unlimited bandwidth and let you use your own domain for free.” (Best Blogging Platform)

The reason I left it to just those two particular platforms is because they happen to be the best online. In my opinion, for bloggers who are just starting out, Blogger is your best option. It is easy to use, navigate and understand. Later on, after one is more accustomed with blogging, moving to Wordpress would be more advisable as it looks and feels much more professional than Blogger.

What to Blog About

The hardest part, when it comes to blogging, is deciding on what to blog about. However, there are a bunch of ideas and topics that potential bloggers can get down to blogging about.

“Respond to something elsewhere on the web. Suggest an idea. Interview someone. Blog an event. Ask a question. Pick a fight. Reflect on something. Do something visual. Review something. Make a list. Write a how-to. Let someone else post.” (Ideas for Starting a Blog)

“Before you dive in and commit resources to creating and maintaining a blog, make sure that you are creating content that your audience will want to read, and that also maps back to your goals.” (What to Blog About)

It doesn’t really matter what you blog about in theory, as long as it makes sense, has a point and ultimately, is interesting. Beyond that, the world of blogging is yours to discover and paint. The more unique your posts are, the easier it to attract loyal readers who will come back time and time again to read what you have to say.

The Importance of the Layout

“The blog’s layout and design also plays a big role.  While most of the companies offering free blog hosting offer pre-selected templates, there are also some that allows customization that if you utilize this feature correctly can increase your blog’s traffic.” (Importance of a Blog)

It definitely is important to understand the importance of the layout because this is the first thing a new reader will see and will ultimately decide if they choose to stay and even come back. It is always advisable to keep your blog clean and easy to navigate. The article above insists on adding the following to your blog to help the layout:

• Customize a banner


• Personalizing photos


• Add a favicon


• Check out blog templates, layouts, backgrounds, textures and skins from sites


• Include RSS feeds


• Audio makes your blog more personal


• Advertisements

I hope this information from a number of different sites which I’ve aggregated will be useful and will make you blogging experience easier and effective.

What is your take on blogging? Did you find the material from the sources above useful?

Top 10 in Social Media!

I feel like I should have totally been a part of this class ages ago! I would much further in my goal to becoming a top-notch journalist. However, it’s never too late and over the last 11 weeks, I’ve found myself learning heaps! Take a peek at the top ten things I’ve learned thus far.

10. Social Media is a platform for everyone – age, gender, location, have no control over who and why you can get on board.

9. LinkedIn is supremely helpful and one of the most powerful Social Media sites.

8. It is important to divide your time between all forms of Social Media. While we all have our preferences, each is equally as important as it allows you to build a complete brand.

7. Keywords, keywords, keywords.

6. Each Social Media platform has its own purpose. LinkedIn is more professional, Twitter allows you to connect with people via 140 characters and Facebook allows you to keep in touch.

5. Complete it! Whatever your choice of Social Media, make sure you complete your profile 100 percent, it makes all the difference.

4. Apps! I’ve found myself using Apps for a number of reasons on all my Social Media platforms. Each of them have been different but effective and useful.

3. Go Mobile. Not everyone feels the need to indulge in a smart phone but really, if you do, you’ll find yourself always connected.

2. Connect. Whichever your choice of Social Media, the idea is to connect and while this doesn’t mean you need to be best pals with everyone, it doesn’t mean one must not network with people they do not know. Networking will help connect you from A to B and B to C.

1. You’re always learning the ropes. I don’t think anyone knows everything about any Social Media platform. Each one is constantly evolving and changing. This means that it is important to stay on top of things and educate yourself.

Curators - The Future of Journalism?

In response to Professor Weiss' Blog: Is Curation the Future of Journalism?

I had to really think carefully about the true meaning of “Curation” because to me, it simply looks like a lot of research that is put together. But from the comments above, I’ve come to understand that really a curator is one who is specialized in a particular field. So ultimately this would mean that a curator is a person who must commit to a particular area of journalism.

I think that curators definitely have a deep rooted future in the world of journalism. However, I don’t know how effective one may be since they are ultimately just accumulating information, meshing it together and creating a platform to gather information that is readily available to anyone who needs it.

I wonder also, how it works with being a journalist. For example, if I commit myself to a certain area in journalism, does it make me a curator? And what if I pen original work of my own? Do you need to choose between being a curator and penning original work?

Ultimately, yes curators are going to shape the future of journalism because they are so niche in what they do and it definitely does require a certain amount of expertise.

Social Media and Journalism

Bill Gates on Social Media and Journalism

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/bronstein/detail?entry_id=61674

Bill Gates has found himself an avid Tweeter and of course, has also succumbed to the ways of Facebook. However, this is a very recent development. As an avid Techie, who is known for being on top of his game when it comes to modern technology, he realized the importance of Social Media much later than most people. He is often seen re-tweeting articles written by prominent journalists from renowned publications. The reason? “That anybody can publish, that overall is a very good thing, the fact that you can search and find things is a very good thing.” What is most interesting about Gate’s interview regarding Social Media and journalism is how he realized that Social Media is a thing of the future and so, it is important for everyone including “heavy duty techies” to get involved now because it is constantly evolving.

Harnessing Social Media

http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=4860

Traditionally, journalists and their jobs were simple. Pitch a story, write, edit and publish. Most job titles too were clear-cut: writer, contributor, editor and so on. Now however, with the introduction of Social Media, most writers find themselves having to contribute not only to the publication but also to their publications Social Media portal. And so, actual positions and groups are now being implemented into most publication houses. These people basically handle the Social Media sector of a publication. It is their job to ensure every article is tweeted, Facebook pages are updated and so on. A well known Social Media editor in the article says, “We are very conscious that we are kind of intruders into social media, and for the news to be there, we need to be doing it right. We need to be respectful of the medium and not just put links everywhere.” This is interesting because as journalist, I always believe that any published article of mine should and must be tweeted and posted on Facebook. But I learned that this is not the case.

i-Pad Newspaper

http://mashable.com/2010/11/21/the-daily-ipad-journalism/

You know Social Media is headed places when Rupert Murdoch decides to indulge in an i-Pad-only newspaper. Titled “The Daily” his newspaper will be able exclusively to i-Pad users for a meager 0.99 cents per day. His idea of a “digital future” starts immediately with news and thus, his idea of taking journalism to the next level is one that you would think, would have come to someone immediately but obviously didn’t. “He realizes more than his competitors that the future of news isn’t in propping up print publications, but creating truly immersive digital experiences. He may very well be creating the template that brings other newspapers into a profitable digital age.” This is a key idea. The digital age is really journalism in the future and thus, the idea of a newspaper solely for an i-pad seems revolutionary.

Social Media and Cricket

I’m pretty sure a lot of our class is totally unaware of sport, Cricket. It’s almost like a cross between field hockey and baseball. And if we’re talking teams, then the biggest teams in the world happens to be India, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa. With the World Cup Final around the corner, the semi-finals will take place in India between old rivals India and Pakistan. Think of it as the Lakers vs. Celtics. Yes, it’s that serious. And the subcontinent, who is big on Social Media, are gearing up for a big contest tonight which will determine which of the two teams will go into the final. However, the history and politics between both countries makes this game one of the most anticipated matches of the century. So back to Social Media and this match. If you happen to have a number of cricket fanatics whom you follow on Twitter, you’ll get an idea as to how big this particular game is for fans all over the world. Twitter has literally become an outlet for fans who not only tweet regularly during live games, either praising or ousting out players, while they act like commentators and give out their ten cents. Facebook has struck a number of debates as to who has the better team, who will win and the current “voting” app too has been put into use as users choose their favorite between the two.

The Indian and Pakistani media has realized how important Social Media is to such a match and since this is the first time since a match of this level is being played since the “arrival” of Social Media. Some of the statistics are amazing to read with regards to how important this match is. An article based on this particular match, went on to explain that over 80 percent of conversations on Facebook are about the upcoming semi-finals in India. In fact, this type of hype has rarely been seen to the extent that doctors are worried about what would happen if either team did go on to lose and its effects on viewers which are expected to be over one billion worldwide.

So why the chaos? Why the mayhem? You may ask. Well, it’s not as though these teams have never played before. They have. Whenever they do meet at the World Cup, India always wins. On the flip side, Pakistan never loses at the Mohali venue, where the match will be played tonight. Social Media is playing a huge part in generating hype and excitement for the game. However, this has also created much tension between Indian and Pakistani fans who have resorted to a number of racists slogans to cheer on their teams. Sadly, Indians who are still mourning over the terrorists attacks that occurred a few years ago in Mumbai by Pakistani terrorists have still not received answers from their neighboring country. This is one reason why the Indian public would like their team to win this particular match – as an act of revenge. Needless to say, these racist slogans have not gone down too well with Pakistani fans who in turn have come up with slogans dedicated to the Indian team too.

Social Media is never behind, whether it’s a revolution, a dire issue and in this case, the match of the century. You can expect fireworks tonight as fans will update statuses at regular intervals while they tweet with match updates. You can be sure I’ll be doing the same and rooting for my team – Team India!

Talking Movies with Mr. Bookwala

It was such a pleasure to chat with Mr. Bookwala. The young budding director is all about making a difference in the world of Hindi cinema. But what most interests me is his knack for being an incredibly broad minded and uniquely different filmmaker. Very sharp and rather avant-garde for the Indian population, Mr. Bookwala hardly believes he cannot achieve what he has set out to do. With an incredibly long line of work behind him, I couldn't help but approach him for an interview especially since I am an avid Hindi movie fan! Looking for some "real" answers, I asked him a bunch. His answers? Inspiring!

Tell me about your journey in films? How did it all start?
I’ve always dreamed of making movies. From the first time that I watched Betaab in a theater, I knew that nothing would fascinate me more. I voraciously watched all kinds of Hindi movies growing up and found a particularly charming addiction to them. I directed plays in college, did a small stint with Ad-Films and worked extensively directing TV shows. But my lust for the silver screen only increased with time. It was vibrant, luxurious, full of razzle-dazzle fantasy and a delicious visual feast that I could not get enough of. Then I saw Dil Se, and I knew I had found my calling. I packed up my bags, headed to NYC and got a degree in writing and Directing from NYFA. It took a while to get entrenched into the business (coming from a non-film background) but today I’m happy producing and writing films.

Who are some prominent personalities within the industry that you look up to and why?
Ekta Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, AR Rahman, Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. There are plenty of names. Each in their own way has redefined a part of what the industry is today. Be it, opulence, to styling to new sounds and technology to absolutely unconventional stories

How has the face of Hindi cinema changed over time?
It’s radically evolved. Films today create their own hightened world, aggressively defying conformist authenticity and the established conventions of Bollywood. Today we have films like an LSD, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Ragini MMS, and Bheja Fry finding an audience. Not to say, it all lies in smart stories and zero budgets. Audiences are open to smarter content. Better Story. Innovative visual effects. And design. So today a superhero film like Krrish is a walloping success. Also an absinthe-dripped extravagance like Guzaarish, dealing with a macabre subject like Euthanasia finds producers. Technicians are Operating with the precision and crazy adornments of a cuckoo clock, “stars” that used to be a migraine have become professionals. Marketing has become so visceral and enchanting that even the man on the moon knows about the release.



What do you like and dislike most about current films?
Many films today package big stars, foreign locations and are a terrible case of sensory overload with style, music and fancy glossy camerawork. Anjaana Anjaani, Kambakth Ishq, Saawariya and Tashan are some examples of films that focuses on lavish production numbers and star value. Like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film, the excesses could be scraped away so that we can audiences can see actors bring their characters to life. Instead the films let us get overwhelmed by the MTV-style editing and the garish sets. The story is the soul of a film. That is, and always will remain the success formula to a movie. Sadly, writers are the least paid on a film. Ranging from 0.5 – 1% of the films budget.

What is one façade that you have come across while working in Hindi films?
People in Bollywood are FAKE. Everyone hates everyone. Still, people chose to be incessantly diplomatic about it. There is a dirty sense of competition. Everyone plays the number game. It’s the crab mentality. Bollywood is a complete façade.

Where do you see Hindi cinema in the next 10 years?
Hindi Cinema should find a place in world cinema. There will always be the gala song-and-dance routines, but we will have delivered the one Oscar winning, internationally acclaimed film. Indian Cinema will be where cable American TV (HBO, Showtime, Starz) is today, in 10 years.

A piece of advice you would give to budding filmmakers?
It’s a long and frustrating journey. Have patience. And Faith in yourself. The world will give you enough reason to believe that you cannot make a movie. Defy it. Keep going! Make a film that you’d like to see. Be completely faithful to it. Remember, the show MUST go on.

WikiAnswers vs. Yahoo Answers vs. LinkedIn Answer

By default, I always have gravitated towards Yahoo Answers only because it seems to be the most popular and almost ready with answers to nearly everything. Some days, I admit, my questions are a bit nutty. But we all ask those, “How to make your hair grow longer quicker?” questions even if you choose not to disclose. However, with this assignment I was able to put Yahoo Answers to the real test. I decided that since I am currently on a LinkedIn high, I posed the following question to Yahoo Answers, “What are the benefits of LinkedIn?” Hit Enter and badda-bing, the answers appeared.

Immediately, Yahoo Answers not only defined and broke down how LinkedIn worked in lament terms but quickly, members of the Yahoo Answer community named a number of LinkedIn benefits in a number format. And what I really liked most about Yahoo Answers is that it is interactive as users are able to comment, correct or even rebuttal any of the answers that previous users may have given to an answer. In addition, users even give their experiences. With regards to my question, users went on to give an insight into their experiences with LinkedIn and of course, that led to a number of conflicts between users who decided to debate out the ups and downs of LinkedIn in the bargain.

I then turned my attention to WikiAnswers and posed the same question. For starters, it was a bad day on the WikiAnswers server I believe because it took over 3 minutes for my answer to finally come up. What I discovered that WikiAnswers was a lot similar to Yahoo Answers except that a lot of the time, only one answer came up. I’m not sure if I really liked the limited response that WikiAnswers provided me with. It almost seemed like there was one definite answer for a question. Unlike Yahoo Answers, WikiAnswers is not as interactive and detailed. A lot of the answers are short and limited in detail.

With regards to how both of these sites fair in front of LinkedIn Answers, well needless to say, they were not as good. Obviously, LinkedIn Answers is geared more towards answering queries that are LinkedIn related and so, they can give you a greater insight into all questions that are geared towards answering LinkedIn. If I had to choose a “favorite”, I would pick Yahoo Answers simply because I understand it better and like the variety that it offers. However, it terms of professional answers, then it’s definitely LinkedIn answers with WikiAnswers taking spot 3.

Interview with Mr. Sen!

It's fair to say that Mr. Sen is one of India's most acclaimed but detested film critics. However, I look at it like sheer honesty. Mr. Sen never banters on and on praising a screenplay that isn't there and definitely isn't looking to gain brownie points in the books of any celebrities. It's his amazingly here-it-is-attitude, that I most love about him. When it comes to his understanding of Social Media, he is definitely connected on all platforms. Sen understands how important Social Media is in this day and age. His interview is a must read as he talks about all things Social Media!

As a prominent journalist in India, how do you view Social Media and more importantly, how do you use it personally?
I use it most notably as a sounding board, to throw something out there and get instant feedback. It gives you mostly coherent feedback that you can filter into something of use. It's great also with following any form of news, finding out how the rest of the world is reacting to something at the same time that you're becoming aware of it.

Considering that Social Media is a relatively new idea and you began writing when it wasn’t around, how has it changed the world of journalism?
It's made the dissemination of information incredibly quick and simpler than ever. It is easier to send something out there now, watch people react in real-time, and, of course, easier than ever to stay on top of an emerging story/trend.

According to you, what are some major advantage and disadvantages of using Social Media?
Social Media, in all it's forms, is a great tool with immense potential. 'Tool' is the keyword. There is danger of overkill, overexposure and brand-dilution if boundaries aren't clearly drawn with Social Media usage. Like in any form of media, the medium is less important than the message, and Social Media thins out the field, separating those with genuine content from those without.

Which is your favorite form of Social Media and why?
I personally like Twitter because of how dynamically it works. I can tweet in a manner of seconds, and instantly hop across to see what is being said by people I follow. Sure, the format lends itself to both time-killing and voyeurism, but then mostly everything on the Internet does.

How can journalists use Social Media to build a strong portfolio, a community and/or build their own personal brands?
Authenticity is key. You need to find your niche and stick to it, showcasing your best work while being open enough to share what you find online. Everyone's looking for filters on the Internet, people and sites who recommend what they click on, and if you can become credible in this regard, that's half the battle won.

What advice do you have for any budding writers as to how they should fully use all or any Social Media platform?
The feedback bit I discussed in (1) is a great asset, and gives you a direct insight into how you're being perceived by your audience. It isn't enough to show off what you can do, however, but you also have to react to what your audience is saying -- and sometimes provoke them into action.