I woke up to snow this week. The forecasts for a fall snow storm had all been right. I settled in for a snow day with my boys and wondered if I’d be called in to work. It was the last day of my vacation time I’d taken to be off with the boys during their fall break. It was a day of pajamas, hot chocolate, games, cartoons, shoveling and running around in the snow.

It’s sometimes hard for me to turn off work, you know that internal switch where you can completely allow yourself to be in th...
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I was sick and at home for almost a full week. Watching the news was one of the last things I wanted to do. I wanted to watch chick flicks, reruns of my favorite shows, and catch up on all the shows episodes that sat for months on the DVR. Yet, I am a bit addicted to the news. I couldn’t stay away from it, but I rarely turned the TV to it. I got almost all the news from Twitter and facebook.

No, I didn’t just read tweets or status updates and take those posts for truths. I let those posts ...
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I don’t really remember not being on facebook or not being on Twitter or not emphatically promoting the use of social media in traditional media.  So it’s very surprising to me to realize I’ve only been at this social media thing for just over a year.  That’s right I only started my personal facebook page just over a year ago, and only joined Twitter 10 months ago.

I do remember years ago my younger friends who had just graduated from college talking about facebook.  I thought, “oh...

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Wednesday night I listened to a SWAT situation in the metro area.  It sounded like multiple agencies were participating in an operation to take a person in custody.  I had nothing confirmed, but  I shared what I heard on Twitter though.  I often share what I hear as a way to keep the community informed as to what’s happening and to explain the news process.

At first I didn’t hear the location of the SWAT incident and said so in my Tweets.  This lead to two people replying to me with what...

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September 30, 2009 Denver Press Club

We gathered to answer questions of using Social Media in news, as a journalist.  From questions of marketing and branding to verification of sources we answered a wide range of questions.  Those who attended the seminar guided the discussion and shared some of what they are currently experiencing with social media.  We talked for just about two hours.  I encourage you to watch the entire discussion, in bits and pieces as you have time.  I hope you find answ...
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