Social media and journalism: Outriders
We've come a long way.
I make Outriders for Radio 5 live. It's part of Up All Night, and everyone is welcome.
When Outriders was launched more than five years ago, it was called Pods and Blogs. That's an indicator of the environment we were working in. Somewhat ironically, we had neither a podcast or a blog to start with.
Back then we had to explain what blogs were and why it was interesting to talk about what people do online for themselves. It's fair to say that then, the international community of writers, producers and commentators was a lot smaller too. But that didn't mean they were without innovation and great content.
In 2007, I worked on using Twitter for news. I had already used it a lot, as the community was growing fast worldwide. It was the fastest way to find people in places where reporters were forbidden or could not gain easy access.
In the case of the Chinese earthquake, later in 2008, it was a simple matter of finding expats who were online and sending messages home to worried family members. Working with the BBC's User Generated Content team (UGC), we had people on air telling us about what was happening long before any reporters could get to the region.
Selling that idea was not easy. If you're a bit geeky - a title I will gladly embrace - you may be an early adopter of new technologies, some of which become a natural part of your mental landscape and communication methods.
If you are not, then this alien world of log ins and having to say something in an exposed manner is something you might easily reject. I was told on more than one occasion that this Twitter thing was not going to take off.
In some ways, I can understand this. We have some of the world's finest reporters, producers and editors and they do the best job of bringing news to people. They had not been up at all hours working out ways to make a new technology work for them, like I had.
That's all in the past now of course. I have learned to be patient with the rate of acceptance. I still provide support and demonstrations using case scenarios for the future, but now mostly only when necessary. Sending material to the BBC, and sharing our content with your friends is now so much easier, and the main thing is that our core values are still in place.
Texting/tweeting your favourite radio presenter may now be indistinguishable for many listeners. A traditional, on-the-hour TV news bulletin might contain material that was recorded on a mobile phone, by someone just like you, rather than a trained camera crew.
Already, these changes are barely noticeable, and in the future, you may not see the difference at all when our engineers unleash new services. They're working on things that you may not have imagined yet.
News as a business has been in a worrying place, with cuts and funding issues everywhere. But innovation is still strong even if you can't see it. Arthur C Clarke said: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Maybe nowadays it's indistinguishable from the norm.
Jamillah Knowles is a BBC journalist, blogger, broadcaster and host of Outriders
Related links
Outriders podcast
Outriders blog
Comment number 1.
At 23:39 16th Jun 2011, what wrote:I don't like to disturb the tumbleweed that blows through here....
but felt I should disabuse Jamillah (the first to discover twitter) Knowles about her blinkered view of the world. This already dated technology seems to have removed all your common sense and any content. Like Facebook it is nearly over. Just look at the sad, self-obsessed people that tweet, and what they use it for. It is a tool
for minor celebrities to tell morons what they don't need to know - if only they knew. It is nothing to do with "embracing new technology....which becomes a natural part of your mental landscape and communication methods...." you flatter yourself. Entwistle said 'Tweet' and the cult members conformed. Civilian journalists will replace the BBC reporters, who seem quite content to sit on their six-fingered hands, but Twitter won't feature. It's last year. And Arthur C. Clarke was a predatory paedophile, perhaps best not to quote him.
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Comment number 2.
At 00:55 17th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:Outriders is a wonderful segment during Rhod Sharp's brilliant programme -- don't let the daft name put you off. It's a classic example of yet another example of a segment on Rhod's programme which deserves wider exposure.
Having said that, Jamillah for all the wonderful insights your segment brings us I am very disappointed you have chosen this forum to trumpet Twitter.
We've had enough of it. We get it rammed down our throats every day on 5Live now.
You've bring so many interesting and intriguing tech tidbits and news together very well in your programme, what a great shame you didn't share some of those stories and instead took this opportunity for _yet another_ push Twitter.
Not only was it a poor choice for a blog post but a we had a similar post a just a few weeks ago from Imogen.
It's deeply disappointing that questions like what does the Head of Development do, and what are the benefits of commissioning programmes from commercial production houses are ignored while we get _another_ twitter piece.
Who is editing this blog and selecting the posts? Poor.
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Comment number 3.
At 11:52 17th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 4.
At 15:58 17th Jun 2011, Jamillah wrote:Hi all, it's lovely to read your responses to the blog post.
@Welcome2theMachine
It's good to hear alternative views when it comes to the use of different technologies for newsgathering, thank you for your points.
I was asked to write about my methods of newsgathering in relation to Outriders. Twitter is a part of my work and research, but it is not all of it. I can't say that I pay much attention to celebrity accounts but I get listener feedback and I find a lot of tips and people who do amazing things and they often become a part of the show.
I'm amused by your "(first to discover twitter)" remark. Although I enjoy early adoption of processes online, I doubt I could claim that title by a long stretch :)
@RyanW
Thank you for your nice comments about Outriders, I'm glad that you like it, it's lots of fun and interesting to make each week. Rhod of course is an excellent broadcaster to work with too.
I can see that talk of Twitter might not be for everyone, but it was part of my remit for this posting. Also in the blog I do mention our use of emails, texts and more. The digital journalistic tool kit is broad these days and there are a lot of methods to choose from. Underneath all the digital whistles and bells though, there is a core of research and traditional journalistic methods and values. I hope that these core skills never change no matter what methods lie ahead of us as news gatherers.
- Jamillah
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Comment number 5.
At 16:48 17th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 6.
At 18:01 17th Jun 2011, Jamillah wrote:Hi Ryanw,
I like chatting with people like this - it's good to have some interesting discussion, otherwise we'd all get stuck in our ways!
No one told me to write about Twitter - I think I have only mentioned it once in the post and then referenced tweeting in a different context. The rest is about changes in broader news gathering from blogs like this and being able to reply to messages here and of course emailing and reaching people around the world.
I think Carrie mentioned Hasit earlier as he has been working on the Radio 5live blog lately. He is the one who asked me to write this time about changes in news and changes in the way we work on Outriders as well as the viewer generated content we use in TV news and other outlets. I hope I can write about other, more appealing topics in future, but for now the story of news development is one that interests me and this was my short post on that subject.
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Comment number 7.
At 19:11 17th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 8.
At 23:17 17th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Jamillah I do enjoy your UAN pieces, don't get me wrong from what I have written @3. Ryanw and all the others including me who 'complain' on these blogs are just in mourning for the days when listeners could actually comment about 5 Live without being admonished like naughty kids. You should know that virtually everyone of the station's partial detractors all love Rhod Sharp's programme and the man and he is often the only good thing to be heard on some days. Thoughtful, intelligent, interesting, reactive, you name it. You are lucky to be connected to his show, you could be stuck elsewhere.........
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Comment number 9.
At 00:06 18th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:Good point Carrie. Yes, Jamillah my issue is more with the inane topic you were asked to write about when you could have bought us far more interesting insights and a better example of the excellent Outriders segment from Rhod's brilliant programme, which as Carrie's suggested is on of the few consistently thoughtful, insightful and intelligent programmes on this radio station these days.
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Comment number 10.
At 21:51 18th Jun 2011, Fedster wrote:Apologies for any typos,it is a bit difficult typing on a smartphone,which has Facebook and Twitter installed as aps ,thus allowing me to follow the goings on at 5live,24 hours a day,7 days a week,its really an amazing feeling.
Anyway back on topic,I found this blog truly compelling reading from start to finish,the point jamelia made about the earthquake is an important one,without twitter,people would not have been able to get their stories out,Twitter is a fantastic tool to gather info as well as enabling people to contact you from places which are remote,or where media is censored.
Jamelia don't let the doommongers get you down,5lives use of twitter should be applauded and long may it continue.
Carrie I have recently started to use twitter its amazing,give it a go,I am sure you will change your opinion about twitter.
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Comment number 11.
At 10:35 19th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Can we follow you Fedster?
5Live is just like a twitter station actually. Some gems, some rubbish.
Robbie Savage has apparently signed for Strictly Come Dancing. Says it all - he won't be able to do 606........................
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Comment number 12.
At 13:20 19th Jun 2011, Fedster wrote:Hast in the spirit of all things social media I am having difficulty in posting on this blog via my smartphone,I can access Facebook and twitter without any problem but the 5live blog does not seem to be very user friend,the post and preview button keeps on disaperring,I have I done something wrong of is the 5live blog not suited to mobiles?
Carrie,the thought of you following me on twitter is sending a shiver up my spine,I can imagine your tweets,will consist of anti 5live rhetoric,the mere thought of wading through your tweets
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Comment number 13.
At 13:26 19th Jun 2011, Fedster wrote:Post 12,is a perfect example of trying to post on here via a smartphone.
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Comment number 14.
At 15:08 19th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Don't worry, I'm not a stalker!! Just giving you a chance to get some followers.
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Comment number 15.
At 15:22 19th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Also not on twitter.
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