Always online, on Facebook and Twitter

Now more then ever it seems news organizations are jumping on the social media bandwagon, which is a good thing. It helps viewers realized there are actual people behind the news stories. It also allows viewers to interact with reporters, and perhaps suggest stories. Between Twitter, Facebook and their internet sites each station in the Capital Region is doing a fairly good job of adapting to the always changing media forms.

Twitter All of the news stations in Albany are using twitter, some better than others. Fox23 up until recently was only using twitter feed, and Capital News 9 is still mainly using twitter feed. Setting up a twitter account with only twitter feed doesn’t mean you are using twitter (as far as I see it).

CBS6 and NewsChannel 13 use twitter feed –but also use it to talk about stories they are working on, what stories are coming up in their newscasts, or get reaction from viewers. This mix of twitter feed and real people tweeting can be both good and bad. Instead of going to one of these news organizations websites and looking for a story, they are all right there on twitter. But, at the same time so many stories coming at you can be a little overwhelming.

News10 seems to be real tweets from real people. Whether it’s where Steve went to get coffee or posting the latest John McLoughlin story, their twitter seems to be the most real. Fox23’s twitter seems to be all business. Just teasing stories and talking about what stories a reporter is working on, or breaking stories. Lately, Capital News 9 has been using their twitter to report traffic problems, which makes me wonder why not make a separate twitter page for Capital Region Traffic?

Individual reporters and anchors are also on twitter. I like the idea of individual people being on twitter. You know who you are tweeting to, as apposed to tweeting to a news organization. And, it also helps when suggesting a story idea, or just to tell them how great they are at what they do!

Facebook NewsChannel 13, News10, CBS6 and Fox 23 News all are on Facebook. NewsChannel 13 and CBS6 seem to use it to post stories, so people can comment on a story. News10 seems to be using it to post weather, information about pet connection, and the News10 at 4 viral video. Like twitter, Facebook also has individual anchors on it. CBS6 has set up accounts for Liz Bishop, Marci Natale, Jerry Gretzinger and Meteorologist Steve LaPointe

Web Only Only one news station has video blogs and exclusive online content –CBS6 News. Morning anchor Ed O’Brien files a daily “Ed’s Head” and Assignment Editor Shane Mahar lets viewers know what CBS6 will be covering that day on “From The Desk.” CBS6 also has exclusive video reports by Ken Screven, Steve Flamisch and Jerry Gretzinger.

FOX23 News is adding a new feature to its newscasts, “The Rant.” This is a great idea, and I think it will be a great addition to their newscasts. CBS6 also uses viewer’s twitter and Facebook comments on stories they cover during their 5:30 newscast. News10 has also been taking advantage of the comment section of their website, by reading people’s comments on their newscasts. And, during their Presidential Visit coverage NewsChannel 13 read people’s twitter comments on the air.