Social Media.

Proficiency in different social media platforms is a must for journalists. As print and broadcast journalism continues to evolve to meet the competition, social media platforms dominate younger generation's sources of news. In the age of deepfakes and Chatgpt, journalists must be able to continue to lift the truth above all the noise of misinformation.

Part of that proficiency is being able to not only use a particular platform, but also when to use it and how to use it well.

Instagram.

Instagram was one of the first social media platforms used by Braswell Media to promote yearbook sales and highlight events on campus. We utilized all three of Instagram's three sharing methods: stories, reels, and posts.

Stories

Weather update

We primarily utilized the Instagram's story feature to post time-sensitive. Keeping our audience informed in real time cultivated confidence and increased followers.

During our final game of the 2022 season against Little Elm Highs School, our fiercest rival, rain and lightning delayed the game. Students, parents, and staff needed up to date information to know if the game was delayed, canceled, or back on, so I hooked up a wireless lapel mic to my phone and gave status updates. It was pouring down and my phone almost died from all of the water intake, but it was so rewarding to see students start filing back into the stadium to cheer on our boys at home for the last time that season.

Score updates

We also used pre-made templates to post quarterly score update for our football and basketball teams. I have found that utilizing the story feature for score updates is much more effective than a post, which tends to get buried in a user's feed much faster.

General

If another school's media program were to ask me how to jump start their social media presence, I'd recommend using stories purely out of their simplicity and flexibility.

Below (from left to right) are examples of a repost of one of our own posts, an early notice, and a promo for students to send in their own photos to the yearbook.

Posts

Using Canva (a process I highlight here), I create graphics that maintain readability while engaging the viewer. While our Instagram stories are primarily for news and updates, the "posts" section of our account is primarly dedicated to yearbook sales campaigns and promotion.

Giveaway contest winner announcement graphic and post created by Reagan Netherland.

Request for student-sourced photos graphic and post by Reagan Netherland.

Yearbook sales promotional graphic and post by Reagan Netherland.

Yearbook sales promotional graphic and post by Reagan Netherland.

Reels

The bulk of our reels were reposted from our TikTok page, but a few were made within the Instagram app. This feature is gaining in popularity due to its ease and functionality.

Fun fact: I took over 60 photos of students in the stand to make this reel! Click here to view the original post.

This reel was a score update during a varsity volleyball match. Click here to view the original post.

TikTok.

I used trendy sounds and (school appropriate) teenage humor to build interest in our accounts and programs.

Why TikTok?

Part of running a social media account is knowing one's audience. Since Braswell Media was not a very well known organization on campus, I decided to start building a presence on TikTok to tap into its popularity among Braswell students.

Student interviews

One of my favorite ways to use TikTok is to interview students. In yearbook and newspaper, we always say the "quote is the story," so these mini-microphone interviews have allowed me to apply this rule of thumb to a platform navigated with one's thumb.