Blog/Twitter #1: Let's Look At Some Posts And Tweets!

Here are links to all our preview and recap posts, and tweet streams. Let's compare the work of each other and see what we did well, and what ideas we can get from others.

Also, examine how the mediums complement each other: the preview does just that; the tweet stream allows you to follow what was previewed, as it actually happens; and the recap wraps it all up.

BTW, unless you received an email from me noting a specific grade, your grade for the Web post and Twitter exercises was 4.0 on each, with each equaling a practice story in final grade weight. (Future assignments will be graded more specifically and be of higher weight, though).

Here we go ...

Megan C.: Store reopening preview and recap and tweets #recordhuntingwithkeith

Perfect execution of all concepts here. The preview post set up the issue, and the recap summed up the end result. Hyperlinks offered greater detail and background to key points/players/places. And the Twitter feed complimented the posts by allowing us to follow along as things happened. Everyone should definitely look at these posts, and see what we can learn from them.

Nathan P.: hockey camp preview and recap and tweets #spartanyouthhockeycamp

Again, good execution of a preview that sets up what is anticipated and a recap that sums up what actually took place. The tweet stream takes us through the session; it could probably use a bit of a stronger lede tweet to let people know exactly what they were following: an MSU youth hockey camp session.


Emily C.: Creativity exploratory preview and recap and tweets #documentarydiscoveries

A typical first-time problem with the posts: each post should be able to be read either in sequence or independently. Here, the recap presumes the preview was read by simply carrying on with the same line of discussion, and using second references. Think about blogs you read; you pick it up where you pick it up, and that's not necessarily from the first post onward. Each post has to be an entryway in and of itself.

Jessica M.: hanging out with a dog preview and recap and tweets #miathedog 

Another perfect example; pleasetake a look at all elements and see how they compliment each other.

Tiago Z.: video game preview and recap and tweets #clevsdetmlb14

We can't forget fundamentals in doing new media; fundamentals like making sure what we write is correct. The preview blog post's headline misspells "Cleveland Indians," that's a fatal. I'm much more forgiving with misspelled tweets, as those are being dispersed in real time without any editing. The audience knows that, too.

Maria B.: microbrewery preview and recap and tweets #behindthescenesatboatwaydbrewing

Here, we have a very visual recap post, and that's great! Let's not limit ourselves to just a traditional medium like words; let's use whatever works to help tell the story, whether it be hyperlinks or embedded pictures or whatever. A nice Twitter stream mixes in telling points and visuals as well.

Terynee B.: making dinner preview and recap and tweets #girlfriendcookoff

Again, we're missing a lede tweet that helps the reader know exactly what they're about to get into, like: 

Nicole D.: Tigers game preview and recap and tweets #detvsla

The requirement was two hyperlinks per post; here, we have far more than that. And that's great! You can't use too many hyperlinks. In this case, most of the links took readers to player biographies, so if they wanted to learn more about the players, they could.

A good tweet stream was undermined a bit by too generic of a hash tag: DETvsLA. What we were trying to do with this exercise is create a hash tag that separates the tweets from the greater Twitterspehere; using a common hash tag instead mixed it in among lots of other tweets with the same hash tag. (Click on the hash tag and you'll see what I mean.) That's fine if we're trying to interject specific points into general conversation, but here we were trying to do the opposite.

Marlee G.: basketball camp preview and recap and tweets #journeytofuturestars

Another really nice pairing of preview and recap. A good example to work from.

Auriel T.: wrestling on TV preview and recap and tweets #rawisauriel

Again, great posts and a verrry loooong tweet stream, which is okay: a tweet stream should be as long as it needs to be to sufficiently "broadcast" the event that's being covered.

Maria M.: craft night preview and recap and tweets #craftnight

Let's be sure that we show and not just tell; when following something visual (making crafts!), don't just tell me (in words); show me (in pictures)! We have one pic, but I don't think you could have had too many. Plus, the hash tag of #craftnight is too generic and pulls in too many unrelated tweets.

Kaylen E.: TV interview preview and recap and tweets #karruecheonjustkeke 

Another solid job here of posting and tweeting.

Tanisha E.: another TV interview preview and recap and tweets #106andpark

Let's not forget our journalistic fundamentals: the news isn't that someone appeared on a show; it's why and what they had to say. Just like with a story, let's lede the blog recap post with end result and ultimate outcome. Plus, in addition to having a more unique hash tag, we need to have the hash tag with EVERY tweet so that, when the hash tag is clicked upon, all the related tweets will chain together.