What I learnt about social media and electoral politics

1. Politicians team up with social media

Social media has paved its way through every event. Whether it be entertainment or politics, social media is always involved and takes the controlling lead. While Politicians still campaign excessively, majority of their campaigning is heavily dependent on social media. “If you continue to create compelling social media posts and grow your followers, then your social media political campaign is on track to become an integral piece of your election campaign’s overall marketing strategy” (Jenn, 2020). 

2. Successful politicians are those with Twitter accounts 

“Politicians are using Twitter to engage with their supporters by sharing ideas and receiving feedback on different issues. They are now more accessible to their voters since the later can directly and instantly contact them and expect feedback in real time” (Nguyen, 2018). 

Twitter is a media platform that has been used more for intellectual topics since day one. Therefore, it’s the perfect platform for politicians to connect with their voters as the Twitter community is probably already discussing the elections. As we know, Obama and Biden has popular Twitter accounts during the election. 

3. Media now structures our political views 

We are so easily manipulated by social media nowadays that we allow it to persuade and form opinions for us. For example, many let social media persuade them into thinking corona isn’t real. Similarly, when it comes to political views, we openly discuss our political views and also allow social media to manipulate them. Facebook “seems to filter out credible news articles on both ends and feed sensationalist far left/far right things” (Wong, Levin, & Solon, 2016).

4. Political Propaganda 

Politicians use social media to sell this image of themselves and their campaign to voters. “This social media tool is also used by politicians to engage the public in their achievements and to improve their image in the eyes of the electorate (Nguyen, 2018). They tailor their content to appeal to their voters and to be more cool in the eyes of their younger voters. 

5. Content creation is everywhere! 

Like discussed in Jenn’s article, political campaigns require content creation. Campaign managers and campaign team members are involved in the content creation process. They’re the masterminds behind the trendy videos we see of politicians. 

As we can see, content creation is becoming a big part of the job industry. With digital media on the rise, the demand for content creation is exponentially increasing as well. 

** This is in response to WRI227 lecture 11: Social Media and Electoral Politics** 

Works Cited: 

Jenn. (2020). “21 Tips for Creating a Successful Social Media Political Campaign.” The Juicer Blog. Retrieved from  https://www.juicer.io/blog/21-tips-for-creating-a-successful-social-media-political-campaign

Nguyen, J. (2018) Politics and the Twitter Revolution: A Brief Literature Review and Implications for Future Research. Social Networking, 7, 243-251. 

Wong, J.C., Levin S., Solon O. (2016). “Bursting the Facebook bubble: we asked voters on the left and right to swap feeds.” The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/16/facebook-bias-bubble-us-election-conservative-liberal-news-feed.

What I learnt about disrupting traditional journalism

1. Introduction of Buzzfeed journalism

With the rise of digital media, traditional news is seeing the end of its time and is being replaced by digital news outlets such as Buzzfeed. “Many of Buzzfeed’s journalists started their careers with traditional news outlets, but have since moved to a news organization that mixes humorous content with serious news” (Tandoc & Foo, 2018). 

This new form of journalism is user experience oriented and more interactive. 

2. Cultural Capital 

In the journalistic field, “cultural capital is often operationalized in terms of excellence in journalistic practice, such as investigate reporting, measured by peer recognition” (Tandoc & Foo, 2018). Buzzfeed has a successful cultural capital since they have journalists that have a team with a combined set of skills that has been shaped by their traditional journalism experience. 

Since creating content and news on digital media platforms has become so accessible, Buzzfeed succeeds by producing fresh content and keeping up with the trends. Their non traditional news format sets it apart from other journalistic approaches. For example, Buzzfeed is known for its quizzes. 

3. Backpack journalist 

As a journalist, you will probably be a backpack journalist. This entails doing it all by yourself. You’ll be expected to write your own stories, take your own photos, provide own embedded audio and video, and submit the story yourself.

This differs from the process of traditional news as the news normally goes through a process before being published. With backpack journalism on the rise, we see an increase in news and unique journalistic styles. However, this leads to credibility issues as well as other issues such as false news, propaganda, etc. 

4. Build credibility 

It’s important that you get the story right. News outlets now, such as Buzzfeed, must constantly work towards building their credibility. 

“You can build that credibility, I think, by being a consistent presence on social media and by listening to people and hearing complaints and everything else” (Tandoc and Foo, 2018). Maintaining credibility doesn’t only mean through the content you create for journalistic articles, but also for the appearance you hold online. 

For example, as documented by Feinberg, there have been instances when credentialed columnists of the Times have lost their sense of proportion. 

5. Strengthen your interview skills 

Interviewing is the top most important active in journalism and mass media. Talking with people is the chief way to get a story and gather information on a topic. 

Therefore, it’s essential that journalists practice their interviewing. This skill includes determining who to interview and finding the most important person for the story. 

While interviewing involves speaking to another individual, it allows involves the act of observation. One can learn a great lot about someone and a situation by just observing them. 

**This is in response to WRI227 Lecture 10: Disrupting Traditional Journalism**

Works Cited: 

Feinberg, A. (2019). “New York Times Columnists vs. the Haters.” Slate. Retrieved from https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/09/it-didnt-start-with-the-bedbugs.html.

Tandoc Jr, E. C., & Foo, C. Y. W. (2018). “Here’s what BuzzFeed journalists think of their journalism.” Digital Journalism, 6(1), 41-57. PDF.

What I learnt about self publishing

1. Digital News Industry is in trouble 

Freelance journalists are experiencing a downfall in digital news as work is less plentiful and the rates are lousy. “Many stringers have to prop up their journalistic worth with ‘content creation’ and other writing projects. These days I find that I’m getting paid more for a sponsored tweet or Instagram post that takes less than a minute, than I do for actual journalism” (Spike, 2017). 

Journalists are experiencing slow response rates and are witnessing social media platforms overtake traditional news as the rise of digital media is making it easier for anyone to publish news. 

2. However, you can still self publish 

As discussed in our lecture and Stovall reading, one can still make it through self publishing with these advices: 

• Stay up-to-date: constantly produce content that is tailored to your target audience. Create a schedule if you want to ensure that you’re constantly producing content. 
• While everyone can produce content and write blogs, it’s hard to find quality content and blogs. Make sure the content you produce is some of your best work and also refer to other works that are good as well. This will help your audience understand that you have an eye for good content. It will serve as an opportunity to collaborate with these content creators. 
• Interact: always interact with your audience. Make sure you’re always responding to comments with a 48 hour time frame. Dedicate time to engage with your audience and interact with them. Engage with them through lives, stories, comment sections, DMs, etc. 
• Online persona: find that person you want to be online. Preferably, you want to showcase your true authentic self. Whatever online person you choose, make sure you stick with it. It’s a persona you will have to maintain for as long as you create content. 

3. How to be tailor your aesthetics: 

Content creation can be tricky but there are a few tips and tricks that allow success: 

• Aesthetic: Make sure your content is always aesthetically pleasing. If you have a certain color scheme going on, stick to it. You want to make sure your content is visually appealing to your audience at first glance. This is what will capture their attention first and spark an interest in your content. 
• Logo: make sure you have a unique logo that represents you and your brand. This will help put a visual on your brand. A simple unique logo will help capture the attention of your target audience. 
• About and Contact page: You want to make sure you have some sort of About and/or Contact session in your content. This will help your audience get a better understanding of who you are, why you started creating content, and also open up opportunities for connections and collaborations. 
• Socials: make sure you attach your other socials in your content. This will allow your audience to follow you on social media. 
• Avoid gigantic walls of text, talking for too long, and not engaging your audience
• Include a call to action button at the end of your content. This could be a like, comment, subscribe button.  

4. How to make sure your content is good (lateral reporting): 

Stovall states “the Web lets us think laterally about what information a reader might need or want and what form that information should take. Editors and writers for the Web, if they are to take full advantage of their medium and if they want to attract and hold a large audience, must consider these forms and must tailor their reporting, writing and editing efforts to produce them when necessary” (2012). 

• Links: they provide the audience with an opportunity to expand on the information that you are providing. 
• Background, details, and lists: as content creators, we tend to have more information than we can convey to our audience. Therefore, it’s important to organize the extra information in a creative way. 
• Pictures: serves as a visual to your audience. 
• Graphics: don’t be afraid to present information in the form of graphics so that it’s easier on the eyes of your audience 

5. Rejection 

The freelance industry can be harsh. You may find yourself coming face to face with rejection multiple times. This does not mean your content or brand is at fault. Not everyone becomes successful at the start of their career - it takes time! Start small and work your way up. Don’t let rejection break you down and stop you from doing what you want. 

** This is in response to WRI227 Lecture 8: Working with Digital Media** 

Works Cited: 

Spike, Carlett (February 1, 2017). “Two dozen freelance journalists told CJR the best outlets to pitch.” 

Stovall, J.G. (2012). Writing for the mass media 8th ed. (pp. 201-213). Boston, MA: Pearson. 

What I learnt about branding myself and promoting content

 Five tips for creating your brand: 

1. Having a clear goal and topic 

The first important step into becoming a content creator and branding yourself is: have a clear goal. Think about what you want your brand to look like. What are you going to name it? What goals would you like to achieve? For example, when I first thought about creating a brand, I wrote down what my central theme for my videos would be. I visualized what kind of influencer I would like to become. 

Then, “list out how you will measure whether the campaign has reached its goals” (Nimble, 2012). This can be through sales, increased brand awareness, engagement levels, comments, likes, shares, subscribes, etc. 

Be sure to “come up with a list of keywords you’d like to rand for socially, then use those keywords in your campaign posts” (Nimble, 2012). This will serve as your SEO which will then help you establish a social CRM to help you turn your intended community/ audience into customers. 

2. Become active online 

As discussed in our lecture, trust agent strategies include being active online. “You need to dedicate time every day to monitoring the Web, participating in ongoing discussions, posting to your blog, and developing new campaign ideas” (Barefoot & Szabo, 2010). 

Connect with other influencers and build your online relationships. This will ensure that your social media marketing is working. Check the Web everyday to see what’s new and who’s mentioned your brand. “”For social media marketing to succeed, we suggest you dedicate around 25 percent of your marketing time to making it work” (Barefoot & Szabo, 2010).

3. Find multiple platforms that work for you 

Depending on your content, it’s important that you utilize as many digital platforms as possible. For example, as a vlogger I wouldn’t limit myself to just YouTube. I would also use Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay in touch with my audience and market my videos/ brand. Using melting platforms can result in higher user engagement. 

As discussed in class, Patreon is great for content creators because it arranges patrons to pay you every month to continue producing content. Remember, there’s a whole community out there to support you. You don’t have to jump on all social media platforms immediately but rather pick a few that you love and know how to navigate. Make sure you know the promotional rules of the platform as well. 

4. Remember the basics

It’s easy to get lost in the content world and lose site of why you actually started: to create content. “Creating lots of content does not necessarily indicate quality” (Krefting & Baruc, 2015). If you’re a vlogger, create one vlog a week but make sure it stands out and that you’re delivery quality material. 

Build your platform. Treat your content as a documentation: update it, give your audience exciting content, note what your audience loves, etc. Capture their attention every time they see your content. Build on your connections through call to action buttons and other social media platforms. Don’t forget the basics include: visuals, a logo, brand palette, unique name, etc. All of these things will help you stand out.

5. REPETITION!!

Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. Always ask your audience to like, comment, and subscribe. Feel free to ask them in the beginning of your video and at the end. 

As discussed in our lecture, people are likely to believe what they’ve heard before. So repeating an idea or promoting your content again will never not be beneficial. 

** This is in response to WRI227 Lecture 9: Promoting Content and Branding the Self ** 

Works Cited: 

Barefoot, D., & Szabo, J. (2010). Friends with benefits: A social media marketing handbook. San 

    Francisco, Calif: No Starch Press. PDF

Krefting, R., & Baruc, R. (2015). “A new economy of jokes?:# Socialmedia# Comedy.” Comedy Studies, 

    6(2), 129-140

Nimble, K. (2012). “10 Tips for a Successful Social Media Campaign.” Retrieved 

    from https://www.nimble.com/blog/10-successful-social-media-campaign-tips/.

What I've learnt about creating an online voice and earning the trust of my readers

 1. Paving your way through the digital world and become a digital native!

When it comes to online content creation, there's thousands of content that's already been put out there. As every hour passes, the internet becomes more crowded. We as content creators play a major role in the exponential growth of the Internet. The constant content producing makes it easier for one to get lost and buried under all the content instead of rising to fame and becoming an influencer. 

As discussed in class, you can’t make viral content; rather you have to pave your way through the competition and become a “digital native - familiar with the digital place” (Brogan & Smith, 2009). Transparency is key. Developing a strong level of trust is essential for content creation. Being genuine with your audience and creating that feeling of trust allows one to shine through the digital world. “You can build influence, share influence, and benefit from the other currencies that such exchanges of trust deliver to you” (Brogan & Smith, 2009). 

Anyone can get into the content creation business, but it takes creating strong relationships based on trust and genuineness to create a community with trust and support that you can count on. 

2. Creating a marketing rhetoric!

As GeGretzel states, the marketing rhetoric for social media is different to marketing rhetoric for traditional media as social media has its own language forms. Animated stickers, GIFs, and emojis are all languages that have been “interwoven into consumer interactions on social media” (Gretzel, 2018). Therefore, it is important for us as content creators to study the language style of our intended audience. For example, I would use animated stickers, GIFs, or memes throughout my vlog to appeal to the gen Z audience and trigger engagement. These marketing rhetorics also serve as a strength as they play a supporting role as they convey your (the author) tone to your audience. 

3. You’re not in this by yourself - become a “connector”

Like any other job in the world, networking and supporting one another is also a part of the content creator job description. Content creators often forget that they’re not on this journey alone. There’s a wonderful community out there waiting for you to start your journey towards becoming a connector - “comfortable maintaining relationships with seemingly unrelated circles” (Lauriston, 2018). 

As a content creator, having a large following and network is great. But if you have no personal connection, you’ll have no network. Take the time to form relationships with those in the industry and your followers as your success rides on them. 

As Lauriston stated, practicing the law of reciprocity - “when someone does something nice for you, you do something nice or even more generous in return”- is essential (2018). Having a positive intention during the process, will take you a long way and have a positive effect on your social capital. 

4. Channel your inner rhetoric - ethos, pathos, and logos!

Being rhetoric is essential as a content creator. You should always be thinking about ways to sound convincing and persuasive. But first, in order to strategically use ethos, pathos, and logos you must know your audience. While you influence your audience, they are the real masterminds in the game as they shape what you decide to vlog and say. 

• Logos: what are you offering? 
• Ethos: why should your audience trust you on this topic? What’s your credibility?
• Pathos: what kind of emotional appeal can you add to your content? 

As discuss in class, “cultivate an audience for your content.” For example, James Charles refers to his audience as “sisters.” It’s a term that is appropriate for the kind of audience he’s building and helps him implement these rhetorical proofs throughout his video.

 

5. Lastly, strategic use of language! 

Now that you’ve paved your way through the digital media world, created a marketing rhetoric, on the way to becoming a connector, and cultivated an audience with the help of rhetoric, it’s time for you to learn about the strategic use of language. 

The first and most important rules is: be polite. This is referred to as the proper netiquette. Now that such a considerable amount of your life is facilitated by the internet, its important to ensure that your digital communication skills are up to date and that your messages are being deliver correctly. As Smith states, it’s important for you to use appropriate language for the tone you wish to convey. 

**This is in response to Lecture 6: Online Voice and Rhetoric**

Works Cited: 

Brogan, C., Smith, J. (2009). “Trust agents. Using the web to build influence, improve reputation, and 

    earn trust.” 

Ge, J., Gretzel, U. (2018). “Emoji rhetoric: a social media influencer perspective,” Journal of Marketing 

    Management, 34:15-16, 1272-1295

Lauriston, U. (2018). “5 ways the incredibly well-connected build social capital.” The 

    Ladders. https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/5-ways-the-incredibly-well-connected-build-social-

    capital.