Educators and industry leaders are calling for journalists to understand and use social networking, and to do so while adhering to journalism ethics and best practices. I can’t stress enough that their education should start in high school at a time when most students already use sites like Facebook.
Not just for socializing
Most high school students I know look at Facebook and the like as social sites with no place in school. There’s a disconnect between Facebook and legitimate online use, which is backed up by the fact that most school districts block these sites from school computers.
This is a foolish, fearful response to sites that are (free) potential learning tools. I’m not saying Facebook isn’t a massive time-waster for many people, but this is precisely the reason that students should be taught how to efficiently use these sites.
Even outside the journalism classroom, teachers could create private groups on Facebook where students engage in meaningful discussions and double-check homework assignments. What better way to remind students of a quiz or share a relevant news article than on Facebook, where they are most likely spending time anyway, rather than on a school’s website.
Potential for j-classrooms
Journalism classrooms have even more to gain from using Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. As a reporter, I was required to have a Twitter account, which I used to find story ideas, track down sources and let readers know what was going on, as well as advertise my stories and blog posts. Every journalist, educator and industry expert I have asked to list the most important skills a journalist needs has included social networking in the top five.
It’s going to be tough for high schools to keep up. I don’t think many schools have blocked Twitter, but Youtube and Facebook are almost certainly on most schools’ “bad” lists. Although there are ways around the blocks (just ask any student to explain), not only would I feel uncomfortable helping students navigate to blocked sites, but it’s also a clunky way to visit these sites. Best to get administrators on board.
Convincing everyone else
I’m no expert in dealing with administrators, but two pieces of advice I have heard from those more experienced: Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission, and perhaps more constructive: Even if you can’t access the sites at school, teach social media use and ethics in an academic way and continually follow up with administrators to show them what students are learning. If they themselves become more educated in how these sites can be educational tools, they’ll be more likely to unblock the sites at least in the journalism classroom.
If any advisers have been successful in removing the blocks, I’d love to hear from you. Without further ado, here are some great resources for using Twitter, Facebook and other social media in journalism classrooms.
Resources for social media in j-classrooms
A recent Pew Internet study reported that teens aren’t taking to Twitter, but high school journalism programs across the country are joining Twitter and doing impressive things there from live-tweeting events to engaging in philosophical discussions about the future of journalism. JEA Digital Media Chair and journalism adviser Aaron Manfull keeps a running list of the Twitter and Facebook pages of high school media.
The Radio Television Digital News Association hosted a free webinar Friday on social networking in the classroom that included a rundown of popular sites and tips on using them with students and convincing administrators to unblock them.
The organization also recently published timely social media and blogging guidelines for journalists.
JEA Digital Media provides a wealth of information to get started, including an explanation on Twitter and how to use it and a handout on using Twitter for live event coverage.
Finally, read more about this issue in an article from the Student Press Law Center, which quotes students who articulate their concerns in a thoughtful way.
