Posted by Misty Montano on Friday, February 19, 2010,
In :
Twitter
 Earlier this week I had to take time to think before I responded to two different Tweets to me. One of which I discussed with a manager before answering. I know I did right in my answers, but I still feel, well, dirty about it. My mantra in using social media has always been: Be Smart. Social networks are tools you decide how to use; you don’t let them use you. This includes doing all you can to know with whom you’re interacting and why. First I responded to a Tweet from a journalist at a... Continue reading ...
Media organizations have partnered for as long as I can remember. CBS4 News used to partner with The Rocky Mountain News before it closed. Now the station partners with The Denver Business Journal. KUSA and KMGH also partner with local print organizations. There are various partnerships with local radio stations as well. These partnerships will continue but need to go beyond media organization to media organization. Collaboration is a term being used more these days to describe a wide variety ... Continue reading ...
Face it. There are a lot of new faces on TV News in Denver. Last week I was one of those new faces as I did a live question and answer session with the anchors during the 6pm newscast. The following day I was live in two newscasts talking social media and the station’s Emergency Toy Drive.
The morning I was in the first newscast, and before I knew I was going to be on the news, I spoke to a group of local business leaders about using social networks in the newsroom. We also discussed ho... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Thursday, December 17, 2009,
In :
Twitter
There are very few reasons I block anyone from facebook or Twitter. Pure spam. Porn. Insults just because I’m a member of the media. These types of accounts I block.
I’ve never stopped any other journalist or news organization from following me; not even direct competition. To do so goes against all I preach about using social networks. Plus I want to follow them to see what they’re doing!
One local journalist has a public account but has blocked me and @cbs4denver. I’m gue... Continue reading ...
This week’s Journchat was lively as usual. Question one lead
to a good discussion on press releases used as news. (You can view the Archived Chat. Question one and the comments start at
7:07pm.) I answered as soon as I saw the
question.
Last night was a no brainer.
As I’m shouting out to coworkers about an email from Denver Police on a
missing grandmother and her two-year old grandson, I’m saving the press release, a PDF file, so I
can upload the release to Twitdoc. I
knew t... Continue reading ...
I’ve spent the last two weeks playing around in Google Wave. I see its potential as a collaborative tool to share information during news events, such as a snow storm. I see it being used as a comment tool much like people comment on facebook or retweet with a comment on Twitter.
By now I believe my social media mantra is clear. Be smart. If you choose to use social media in any capacity know why, know your purpose and be smart in all you do. I need to extend my “be smart” advice to media that decides to critique social media use. Saturday morning while curled up under a blanket on the couch and sipping a mug of coffee I scrolled through Twitter on my cell phone. I saw a Tweet from @DaveWebb that said The Colorado Independent had called out The Denver Post for its... Continue reading ...
I’ve made it obvious that I believe traditional media should use social media. I advocate knowing why you’re using social networks, have goals and have strategies to reach those goals. So I find myself a little surprised at the thoughts that went through my head this afternoon. Is it possible to tweet too much? If you’re giving away your competitive edge, yes you can tweet too much. When I share what’s happening for me on the news desk and in the newsroom I am always aware that I have... Continue reading ...
I talked with a reporter last week about social media and the news. She kept asking, “can social media get us another ratings point?” I said that it could by simply connecting our product to new viewers who are using social networks, but that it would be hard to analyze the numbers. Numbers don’t tell us why we get numbers. Could it be our promotions? Could it be our community efforts? Could it be our efforts on social media? The analytics just aren’t there like they are with the Inte... Continue reading ...
I normally don’t like the changes facebook rolls out as it tries to expand and evolve. No, I don’t fully understand the different feeds in facebook. Until tonight the two feeds, Live and News, have been bothersome, filled with stuff I just don’t care to see, and items I can’t figure out how to not see (like who friends who.) Tonight though, I actually saw a benefit of the News Feed.
Early in my shift On the News Desk I posted a status update that was really a request for Molly H... Continue reading ...
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... Continue reading ...
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 ... Continue reading ...
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... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, October 10, 2009,
In :
Twitter
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... Continue reading ...
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Posted by Misty Montano on Thursday, September 24, 2009,
In :
Twitter
I am often asked how a journalist can use Twitter, facebook or other social media networks while walking the line of being unbiased, yet personable. To me the answer is simple. Be smart when you use these networks When I share my experiences on the news desk I always make the source of the information clear. I never give an opinion on a story or hot button issues like politics and religion. However I am always me. I let my personality come out and I share some aspects of my personal life, like... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, September 19, 2009,
In :
Twitter
I want to be absolutely clear. I messed up. I did not think the situation all the way through before I posted a Tweet. I’m going to explain my line of thinking, but in no way am I excusing anything I did. I simply want to share it because I learned a valuable lesson that slapped me in the face. Seriously, my face stung like I had been slapped.
I received a call from another O & O (owned and operated) CBS station asking if I knew anything about a plane that had to make an emergency la... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Thursday, September 10, 2009,
In :
Twitter
Social media does make the world smaller and all of a sudden makes 6 degrees of separation more of a reality for me. Tonight I posted two tweets sharing my frustration of not being able to get a PIO to return my calls. My first Tweets on a possible lightning strike victim came out about 5:30p.m. Almost four hours later I had not had my calls returned. But I had seen in an early newscast on another station that they had the details from the PIO. Within minutes of my frustration Tweets, the P... Continue reading ...
When you have decided to use Twitter or other Social Media tools in your news organization you need to use them as one in your strategic news plan. If you have a lead on a story and are willing to post the new information on your Web site, post it also on all Social Media platforms you are using. Don’t just break the news on only one tool. Even worse don’t fully share the information on one platform, but only tease on another.
On August 12 all media outlets in Denver were following a devel... Continue reading ...
A few months ago I started Misty Montano CBS on facebook because people who were following me on Twitter were finding my personal facebook page and requesting to be my friend. Even though I find tremendous value in using Social Media as a journalist, I still have the right to maintain separate and personal profiles.
Just as I saw how Twitter was a great resource I knew facebook would be just as valuable and actually allow more that 140 characters to communicate. I set up the account and... Continue reading ...
Recently I was referred to as "oh, the twitter girl" by another journalist. I was not present during the conversation but a friend who was thought the comment was so funny that I was called right up and told about it. The conversation was apparently one of those, "hey, how's it going in your shop?" and my name was brought up. While my friend found the references amusing, I found it disturbing.I believe in using all tools possible to advance journalism. The tools at my hands at all times o... Continue reading ...
In this fast viral world we now live in due to so many social media platforms, I have found it bothersome that I can’t share all I want to with those who follow @CBS4Denver and/or @MistyMontano on Twitter or facebook. Rather, instead of saying can’t, I should say, I don’t have the time to re-write and share the information I receive from press releases.
One of my responsibilities as an assignment editor on the news desk for CBS4 News is to sort through, distribute, and file all of th... Continue reading ...
Last week I posted "To my surprise the crazy caller made my day normal" because it had been a nice, easy transition for me back on the news desk after being on medical leave. Boy, did I speak way too soon, and may have even jinxed the metro area with that post because around 10:20 p.m. a major storm ripped through the metro area. CBS4 News stayed live on the air until after midnight covering the storm. This meant I stayed and with a very minimal crew, we covered the second costliest storm ... Continue reading ...
Twice this week I personally have been called out by two separate former followers on Twitter. Words like sensational and ignorant were used to describe me personally as a member of the media. In later posts both former followers then made degrading statements regarding media. Then both quit following me. A third former follower posted a question that tried to imply I was pushing station policy, when that simply wasn't the case. I tried to speak to all three to open a dialogue to discuss... Continue reading ...
Since I have asserted it’s time to define how journalism can function in social media, I’d like to offer advice on how to start or how to improve your use of social media. Let me put forth a suggestion that we not think of social media as “media.” I know when I think of other media, I think of competition. Social media is only competition when you choose to let it be. Social media platforms are tools to utilize to help achieve your news goals.
Social platforms are not just T... Continue reading ...
I was surprised at the push-back I received from professional journalists, freelancer photographers, professors and even journalist students regarding the use of social media as a journalist and/or in the newsroom when I presented at the NPPA Convergence. I faced many questions as to why social media to be used, the ethics of using social media, the verification process, copyright issues and even concerns that using pictures and video shared via social media platforms is taking jobs away fro... Continue reading ...
When the station did the first local reporter packages on the protests and clashes after the Iran election, a reporter asked me to see if I could reach anyone in Iran on Twitter that would be willing to do an interview using Twitter or email, or whatever platform necessary to accomplish the interview. I was asked to do this around 8:30pm.
Of course I said I would do it and then asked the reporter and producer how we would verify the source if I got the interview? Pause. I'm asked if I thi... Continue reading ...
It’s been over a week since I spoke at NPPA Convergence on using social media in the newsroom. So much happened I needed time to organize my thoughts before writing out my thoughts. Sometime before I started speaking on a panel Saturday, June 13 I saw a post on Twitter regarding the Iran Electionsand the protests that were just beginning. Honestly, my first instinct was that of a journalist, “this is going to be a big story.”
To
be even more honest, after the conferenc... Continue reading ...
UPDATE Friday, May 29th: It's official I will be speaking at a social media seminar during the NPPA Convergence in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks. Then I will moderate a panel discussion on social media. So I need help/advice. Those who attend are journalists wanting to know how to use social media. Some may already utilize social media, but others may not. I'm asking you: what do you want from your local journalist or news organization using social media? This is a whole new field for many of u... Continue reading ...
Today I pitched three stories. Two of the stories came through people contacting me on Twitter and the third was from a caller who actually called a couple weeks ago. I was contacted by the first Twitter story last week and the second was brought to my attention just last night. I knew when I received a phone call from a gentleman who, along with community members and a public school system had established a community garden, that this was worthy of a story. I wrote it up immediately and filed... Continue reading ...
This week I was a panel speaker at a seminar on PR & Media in a New Media World hosted by Mile High Social Media Club. The panel guests also included Elaine Ellis of Metzger Associates and Jason Kintzler founder and CEO of PitchEngine. The seminar was attended by mostly PR professionals and bloggers who submitted questions for the panel to answer. I was honestly surprised to hear the public relation field is working to figure out the purpose and uses for social media just as media outlets are ... Continue reading ...
Below is the article I wrote for an upcoming NATAS newsletter. The purpose of the article is to introduce social media to the NATAS member that may be thinking of using social media. Tell me your thoughts. Social media may not be a necessity. Social media, at this time, may not drastically change viewership numbers. Social media, however, will give you or your organization another voice in a world where turning on the television is not always the first action people take to find news. Social m... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
As with any form of communication there are multiple opportunities for misunderstanding. I believe a misunderstanding lead to someone following me on Twitter to un-follow me. Instead of asking me about what I meant, the follower decided to call me out on Twitter and to un-follow me. I admit it's hard not to take this personally. Last night I left work while there was an active shooting in Greeley. There was nothing more that I could do. A freelance photographer was on the scene. The Under Sher... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
As I opened this new post I started to monitor a fire west of the station, over 20-minutes away, in Jefferson County. I entered the title and stopped writing to focus on the fire. I checked all sources that could possibly also be monitoring the fire and found none. Not knowing if I'm the only assignment editor in the city listening to the fire, I had to decide what, if anything, to post on Twitter. I chose to post nothing at first. This was the right decision. For less than ten minutes I liste... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
Tonight I received my first Tweet critique from a follower. He stated, "Too many RT's that aren't relevant to News, I'd like to keep following you but there are too many twits for me." I promptly sent a reply thanking him for letting me know this. Luckily, he hadn't unfollowed me yet so I sent him a direct message saying, "seriously, thank you for being honest with me. I'm still learning my place as a journalist on twitter. I understand if you no longer follow." This is complete honesty. I fin... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Branding
I'm learning. I hope to always be learning. Currently I'm learning how to incorporate social media into my job as an assignment editor. I truly believe mainstream media will evolve to incorporate and utilize social media. So I jumped right into the action. If you've been following me on Twitter, @MistyMontano, you know how I've been using Twitter as a journalist. I function between my account and the station's, @cbs4denver, to engage in conversations about stories, to share what it's like to w... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
Twitter allows interaction with the viewers I'm trying to reach. Twitter allows Tweeps to share in my day, share my journey of news each night. Twitter makes the news more than just headlines. Twitter allows transparency in news coverage. Twitter allows Tweeps to have ownership in the news. All of that is possible in Twitter because Twitter is what you want it to be. You can make Twitter work for you in any way that you want. I use Twitter for all the above reasons. I have two simple Twitter R... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
An effort to understand and utilize Twitter in the newsroom and in life has lead me and my husband, @Edit_Foundry, to search the web and read, read, read. We've found many articles and followed many Tweets on using Twitter. I've decided to start listing what we've found that has been helpful to me as a journalist. My goal is to keep everything in one place so I can easily access it all. Please use my list, add suggestions and check it out occasionally as I will update it as I find new informa... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
I have seen several blogs and news stories about Twitter and how Twitter is changing journalism. Previously I've discussed the future of journalism in the face of new media a.k.a. social media a.k.a. advanced media. I've decided to throw out my two cents on how social media has recently affected me as a journalist. I hope to give fellow journalists some ideas on what they can do as well. CBS4 News launched Twitter a few months ago and then created a CBS4 News Facebook Fan Page last month. It's... Continue reading ...
Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009,
In :
Twitter
I started this blog over a week ago and every time I sit down to write it, I can't seem to get out what I want to say. This block has left me feeling like there's nothing else I can blog about until I get this out. So please, if ramble and take tangents, remember it's my way of trying to connect the dots. I'd love your feedback and ideas. I agree Lacey, it's been too long since I blogged. Last week was a horrible week for journalism in Denver. The Rocky Mountain News closed. There were lay offs... Continue reading ...
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About Me
I'm a journalist utilizing social media, i.e. social platforms, in mainstream media news coverage. I learn something new every day. These are my thoughts, ideas, failures and successes at integrating mainstream media and social media.
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