Journalism.co.uk :: How to: use RSS and social media for newsgathering

Journalism.co.uk :: How to: use RSS and social media for newsgathering: "How to: use RSS and social media for newsgathering
Posted: 11/04/08 By: Paul Bradshaw
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You're a busy reporter; you have 40 page leads and 132 NIBs to write by lunchtime; but if you're simply going to Google when you need info for a story or a lead then you're missing out on the benefits of the web 2.0-driven internet and wasting valuable time - let that news come to you instead.

The combined use of RSS feeds and other social media tools can help bring your way sources and information you might otherwise have overlooked - making it easier to spot leads or put new meat on an article.

It takes a little time to set yourself up the necessary accounts and alerts and then tailor them to your specific needs - but once you are there then the news will come flooding your way.

I call it 'Passive-Aggressive Newsgathering'. But if that sounds too Woody Allen for you, you could call it 'Aggregating-Networking Newsgathering'.

Here are a few tools and tricks that might improve your hunt for stories."