Digital Tool Tuesday: SFJ conference wrap-up, with links and great story ideas
The Society for Features Journalism conference at the University of Maryland was a great success.In case you didn't make it, here's a list of the digital tools we discussed during a Friday morning session with Betsey Guzior, engagement editor at Bizwomen, and Corey Takahashi, a multimedia instructor at Syracuse University, and at other sessions. Digital tools
- Snapchat: Peter Hamby, formerly of CNN, heads News for Snapchat
- Tutorial on how to use for news: http://socialmediadesk.tumblr.com/post/127727042166/a-tale-told-in-36-snaps
- Canva: Combine media and text for Twitter cards, Facebook posts and covers, quote galleries - https://www.canva.com/
- Pablo: main bit of text on picture with logo: https://buffer.com/pablo
- Buffer: buffer tweets: https://buffer.com/
- Infogram: free version to visualize data (above): https://infogr.am/
- IMGflip: easy way to make annoying gifts: https://imgflip.com/
- Also makes memes
- Can make pie charts - can add as many slices
- Twitter cards: creates a text/image card when readers tweek a link: https://dev.twitter.com/cards/overview
- Creates attractive hyperlinks
- Needs a verified account
- If there is an error, will replicate through story
- Mosaically: allows you to make a high resolution zoomable mosaic: http://mosaically.com/
- Playbuzz: open source quiz, poll and match game generator (this one helps you match the shirtless chest with the college football coach: http://www.playbuzz.com/
- Can embed game into stories
- Go Animate: paid digital tool to create an animated story: http://goanimate.com/
- Co Everywhere: find real-time media chatter in a certain area: http://www.coeverywhere.com/
- Great for breaking news
- Periscope: live interactive video streaming: https://www.periscope.tv/
- Can use twitter credentials
- Patreon: recurring fundraising: https://www.patreon.com/
- Patrons as a new version of subscriber
- Tiny Letter: easy way to start a newsletter: http://tinyletter.com
Great examples
- Social engagement
- Washington Post's #waposhelfies: Color-coded bookshelves photos - http://wapo.st/1NNMclN
- Food
- Crawfish index - tracking the price at 10 restaurants http://bit.ly/1MU9CFi
- Spreadsheet of restaurant openings to check on
- Advance + listical of new restaurant opening
- Technology
- Great DIY setup for recording audio in a hotel room http://bit.ly/1UhAgs7
- Being a DIY producer: http://nyti.ms/1MSOsaw
- Podcast production: http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_614_-_the_president_was_her
- Story ideas
- Own version of Kid Chef, weird ice cream, adult milkshakes
- Books picked by local authors, great places to take a selfie, where bartenders drink and DIY crafting
- Must-take day trips, summer to A to Z guide, popular podcasts and shopping with a local celeb, Christmas trees at work
- Recipe databases, restaurants worth the wait, food instagram
- Events
- Showcase local chefs http://events.latimes.com/taste/
- Moth-like events http://bit.ly/1KmZNPS & ly/1EmuJil
- Cool stories/sites to read/check out
- The Compton You Haven't Seen On Screen http://n.pr/1Kex2X5
- Motherboard: http://motherboard.vice.com/en_us
- Fundraising
- Building community and making money http://bit.ly/1MZXGTS
- Sponsored content
- Where to find Starbucks along the metro http://bit.ly/1PAsNmx
- Interactive http://theatln.tc/1U8bQXn