The following are highlights of
today's Digital First Media chat discussion about content curation in journalism.
[<a href="http://storify.com/ivanlajara/curation-in-journalism" target="_blank">View the story "Curation in journalism" on Storify</a>]<h1>Curation in journalism</h1><h2>A (meta) curated discussion about the function of curating content for journalistic purposes.</h2><p>Storified by Ivan Lajara · Wed, Jun 06 2012 19:47:10</p><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Why do journalists curate content? How does it improve journalism?</span><br></div><div>Because more content is better.<br></div><div>A1. More information to more people is always a good thing. Knowledge is power, right? #dfmchatKim McDaniel</div><div>A1. Providing more sources can mean a better sense of the overall picture for the consumer. #DFMChatChristina Gullickson</div><div>A1: The Internet is big with a lot of bad information. As journalists we can help people to the good stuff, even if it's not ours. #DFMChatDanny Willis</div><div>And, besides, curation is nothing new.<br></div><div>A1: Curation actually an old-school journalism trick. Now it's just digital #dfmchatVince Carey</div><div>Like choosing which wire story to run. RT @vincecarey: A1: Curation actually an old-school journalism trick. Now it's just digital #dfmchatDanny Willis</div><div>A1. If "curator" bothers you, think "wire editor." #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>A1. As @acarvin says, journos have always curated content. We just didn't always call it that. #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>@ivanlajara A1 We've always curated. We've just called it "editing." One can't read everything. A trusted curator is vital. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>@ivanlajara A1 Another name for it is "news judgment." We're just applying the skill with new tools. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>@ivanlajara A1 A refinement is the enhanced need to know the audience well. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>Moreover, curation can be use to share valuable work by others; to group small items into a theme; to connect; and to expand your offerings.<br></div><div>A1. We curate because we can't do everything, and we want to share the good work done by others with our communities. #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>A1. If I have multiple brief announcements that individually don't warrant article but share common theme, I will curate them. #DFMChatCynthia Parkhill</div><div>A1. To draw connections where none existed RT @ivanlajara: Q1. Why do journalists curate content? How does it improve journalism? #dfmchatGeorge Kelly</div><div>curating allow us to fill coverage gaps. audiences don't care where the info comes from, they just want the info. #dfmchatJohn Berry</div><div>A1. Curation augments our work, doesn't replace it. Must keep our feet on the street - this broadens the info we can share #dfmchatAngi Carter</div><div>But what is curation?<br></div><div>#DFMchat A!: Define curate. When is it reporting and when it is repackaging?Angela Woodall</div><div>Can it be both? RT @AngelaWoodall: #DFMchat A!: Define curate. When is it reporting and when it is repackaging?Ivan Lajara</div><div>Yes. RT @ivanlajara: Can it be both? RT @AngelaWoodall: A1 Define curate. When is it reporting and when it is repackaging? #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>@ivanlajara @AngelaWoodall There's a difference, but I don't think repackaging is a bad thing -- as long as ur transparent abt it. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>For the purposing of this discussion. I'm going to define curation as the indirect gathering of information for the purposes of adding value by arranging such content into a cohesive narrative, or by illustrating an existing narrative or expanding upon it. If direct gathering of information is obtaining information right from a source — and one could argue that also is curation — indirect information gathering includes, but it's not limited to, using aggregation, linking and compiling images or tweets <span style="font-weight: bold;">in order to add value</span>. <br></div><div>Curation, the (hastily made) infographic. #dfmchat http://pic.twitter.com/xulwzPbKIvan Lajara</div><div>BTW, I think curation needs context. Just because you can put together a whole bunch of tweets doesn't mean you should. #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>@ivanlajara Curation is not a new skill. Writing a story has always had a curation component. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>This indirect gathering of information part, I think, is what some find objectionable.<br><br>THUS:<br><br>Obligatory side discussion #1: Steve Buttry, Director of Community Engagement & Social Media for my employer, Digital First Media (so he's my boss) and James David Dickson, Op-Ed Editor of The Detroit News' editorial page, and others have a discussion over the concept of a curator being equated to a wire service and what adds value.<br></div><div>A1. If "curator" bothers you, think "wire editor." #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>A1: I second what Steve Buttry said. What I do now as curator isn't much different from when I worked at the AP as online editor. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>Yes but wires are paid services. Value goes both ways. RT @stevebuttry A1. If "curator" bothers you, think "wire editor." #dfmchatJames David Dickson</div><div>@JDDetNews Not sure I understand your point. Either is compiling, evaluating & editing content from other sources. #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>It may have to do with $. Digital curation, we benefit from others work w/o footing the bill. W/ wire briefs, we pay AP. #dfmchatAndrew Nelson</div><div>@stevebuttry And pointing out the big diff -- nation/world editors use content they've paid for, curators oft steal without adding valueJames David Dickson</div><div>@JDDetNews The journalism functions are identical. And you're wrong about curators. They link and add value.Steve Buttry</div><div>@stevebuttry Linking is not adding value -- and often not effective for the linked publication. Added value = added reporting.James David Dickson</div><div>@JDDetNews @stevebuttry If done right, aggregation can drive traffic. But most do it wrong, i.e. provide too much info rather than tease.Jen Eyer</div><div>@jeneyer @stevebuttry Most times I've seen my stories aggregated, so much has been said there's no reason to read my original reporting.James David Dickson</div><div>@JDDetNews @stevebuttry This daily aggregation drives lots of traffic to other stories (granted, on the same site): http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/good_morning_michigan_mysterio.htmlJen Eyer</div><div>@jeneyer @JDDetNews Your example is not curation, but 1 form of aggregation. Curation involves adding value. Read the links I just posted.Steve Buttry</div><div>Those links are:<br></div><div>Guidelines:<br></div><div>Aggregation guidelines: Link, attribute, add valueI have added three updates, marked in bold, since posting this originally. Aggregation has become a dirty word in much of journalism toda...</div><div>Buzzwords<br></div><div>Engagement, curation, content, branding: Buzzwords, yes, but also accurateJournalists hate few things more than buzzwords. Many of us regard ourselves as guardians of the language (as if protecting the First Ame...</div><div>Tips</div><div>Tips on curating the community conversation « The Buttry DiaryJune 10, 2011 by Steve Buttry I will be leading a workshop this afternoon at the Middletown Press on curating the community conversation....</div><div>This, if you haven't noticed already, is not a new discussion. Consider the Washington Post's Erik Wemple discussion over 'aggregation,' which ends thus:<br><br><span style="font-style: italic;">"If there’s any salience to the Buttry-AP thing, it’s that aggregation — at least as it’s known in Internet journalism — hasn’t yet matured into a respected enterprise. Saying that a news organization does a lot of it remains an accusation to be refuted. </span>"<br></div><div>Critic calls AP 'primarily" an aggregation serviceAP: News aggregator or news breaker?</div><div>To which Buttry replied: <br><br><span style="font-style: italic;">"The point of my post was not to “accuse” AP of aggregating, but to note that a lot of good journalism by AP and a lot of other organizations includes aggregation. That’s a fact, not an accusation."</span><br></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is a recurring theme: </span>When new words that describe old techniques applied to the digital real, they become four letter words.<br></div><div>If you think about it, the print product is the ultimate curated package. But some inky printies hate 'curation.' Why? #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>@ivanlajara Resistance for evolving terminology. Plain-old curmudgeonosity. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>("Curmudgeonosity" is unofficially now a Mark Loundy trademark)<br></div><div>Fear of change? MT @ivanlajara: The print product is the ultimate curated package. But some inky printies hate 'curation.' Why? #dfmchatDanny Willis</div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. How do you curate content? What kinds of stories can be told with curation?</span><br></div><div>A2: That's a tricky question, because not all stories lend themselves 2 format. (Give me a minute 2 think that 1 through -- LOL.) #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A2 (continued): Curation works 4 breaking stories & long-form #journalism, but 1 will lack context while other 1's work-n-progress. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A2 (continued): I'd like 2 think what I do now isn't different from museum that collects artwork & displays it according 2 a theme. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A2 (continued): If done properly, curation provides context and depth to help one make sense of ongoing events. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A2: Google alerts; YouTube; library files; all fair game #dfmchatVince Carey</div><div>A2. I guess any way possible. ...Big events where reporters can't be everywhere at once. #DFMChatChristina Gullickson</div><div>A2. Curation can come from submitted sources and can also be gleaned from web. Curator adds analysis-framework. #DFMChatCynthia Parkhill</div><div>Q2. In process now of uniting wrk of @oaklandvoices correspondents with the work of @scott_Johnson on our #oaklandeffect project. #dfmchatMartin G. Reynolds</div><div>Biggest challenge to curation is deciding what NOT to use. So much out there and so many new platforms. Mastery becomes an issue. #dfmchatMartin G. Reynolds</div><div>@reynoldspost It's just like editing a story: the hardest thing isn't deciding what to leave in, but what to take out. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A2. Localizing major national, international events; extreme weather event stories and such #dfmchatAngi Carter</div><div>A2. Once @delicious, now G+ & @pinboard RT @ivanlajara Q2. How do you curate content? What kinds of stories can be told w/curation? #dfmchatGeorge Kelly</div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. What tools can be used for content curation?</span><br></div><div>A3 I most-often use #Storify, also #paper.li #dfmchatAngi Carter</div><div>A3: It can be something as new as Pinterest or as old as a book. In the end, it's more abt info than it is tools used 2 share it. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A3 (continued): I did a few Storify pieces & just joined Pinterest. I think the former's great curation tool; latter has potential. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A3. Storify is obvious, but also Google maps (add pins w/ info & photos), timelines, even live chat. #dfmchatKim McDaniel</div><div>A3. I use the telephone in conjunction with Facebook and Storify the most. #DFMChatChristina Gullickson</div><div>A3: Who needs newfangled bells and whistles when you can have good old fashioned text and HTML? #DFMChatDanny Willis</div><div>@ivanlajara A3 The digital services others have mentioned. But also the old cut-and-paste text editor and your browser history. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>Storify, Twitter advanced search. Pinterest. Flickr. Playing with Olapic, Geofeedia, Statigram. Can be tricky, though. #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>A3. @flickr slideshows, @youtube playlists, @soundcloud sets ... RT @ivanlajara: Q3. What tools can be used for content curation? #dfmchatGeorge Kelly</div><div>A3. Facebook, Storify, Google+, Twitter, face-to-face events. #dfmchatMartin G. Reynolds</div><div>@editortim We use @pinterest quite a bit. Growing like a weed! http://pinterest.com/sltrib #dfmchatKim McDaniel</div><div>If you see a pattern of old and new tools, it can be summed up thus:<br></div><div>@MarkLoundy @ivanlajara Same goes 4 editing. As some1 said earlier, the tools have changed, but skills (& goals) remain the same. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>Sometimes we get so immersed in the "newness" of Digital First that we forget how much we are adapting old school skills. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. With the new tools, however, come new challenges. What about privacy and copyright?</span><br></div><div>Q4. How do you navigate privacy concerns, copyright issues that arise from curation? #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>A4. If people throw a fit for being in a Storify, apologize and remove them. Otherwise call/message creators for permissions. #DFMChatChristina Gullickson</div><div>A4: Attribution & transparency. When I RT stories on MediaBuzzMixers, I make it a pt 2 tell readers info's NOT originating from me. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>@CGullTweets Whenever I quoted some1 in a Storify piece, they were usually appreciative (& surprised). #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A4 (continued): It's just like going 2 a brick-&-mortar library, using primary sources (eg, books, recordings, etc) when possible. #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>@latrice_davis Yeah, I was surprised. Apparently some photos I added were from a freelancer who'd tried to get a job here... #DFMChatChristina Gullickson</div><div>A4. Usually dealing w/ public information, but if not we beg forgiveness or ask permission, depending on the content. #dfmchatKim McDaniel</div><div>Instagram issue: filters. Solution: contact the source.<br></div><div>Filtered Instagram pics for news events are issue. But you can always contact user/witness. #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>Pinterest issue: source copyright. Solution: Find original.<br></div><div>With Pinterest, source can be an issue. #dfmchat How to find original source: http://bit.ly/HHBw6pIvan Lajara</div><div>A4 When using #Google #Chrome, the 'Pin Search' extension helps find the origin of the image #dfmchatAngi Carter</div><div>Copyright issues.<br></div><div>#DFMchat Q4: Will be guinea pig for SPJ/AU focus group re copyright issues in social media age http://bit.ly/raXwASAngela Woodall</div><div>@CGullTweets Strongly disagree Material put online is fair game for curation. Curation is not plagiarism or copyright infringement. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div>@MarkLoundy @CGullTweets That is a major oversimplification of copyright law. Putting something online doesn't make it public. #DFMChatDanny Willis</div><div>A4. Education about difference between "public" and "private" posts on social media will go a long way in this regard. #DFMChatCynthia Parkhill</div><div>A4. Got @creativecommons? :) RT @ivanlajara: Q4. How do you navigate privacy concerns, copyright issues that arise from curation? #dfmchatGeorge Kelly</div><div>A4: Like @allaboutgeorge said, Creative Commons. The Internet is not automatically public domain and we shouldn't assume otherwise. #DFMChatDanny Willis</div><div>That is, properly constructed curation is not infringement. Do not steal. #dfmchatMark Loundy</div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Links. </span><br>Here are some How To and Guides that can help with proper content curation (and crowdsourcing)<br></div><div>How to use Pinterest to enhance your articles http://bit.ly/A25rfI #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>A5. My posts on aggregation/curation: http://wp.me/poqp6-29C buzzwords: http://wp.me/poqp6-1tg & tips: http://wp.me/poqp6-1pz #dfmchatSteve Buttry</div><div>A5: "How journalists can create free infographics with Visual.ly" http://ijnet.org/blog/how-journalists-can-create-free-infographics-visually #dfmchatLatrice Davis</div><div>A5. Via @MindShiftKQED: 14-year-old's advice about posting online: "Are you going to regret this later?" #DFMChat http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/06/kids-adults-media-companies-whos-in-charge/Cynthia Parkhill</div><div>How to make a crowdsourced map, fast! http://bit.ly/JTEneH #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>How to make a slideshow with Pinterest and Instagram images with Storify http://bit.ly/M7gkVg #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>How to make a slideshow with Pinterest with Storify under 2 minutes (10 or <) http://bit.ly/MsxtOm #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>How to make a map of geotagged photos with Flickr http://bit.ly/KqIwoS #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>How to make an automatic map of phone photos with Picasa http://bit.ly/KDm4VL #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>How to make a live blog with a Google Doc http://bit.ly/K0znjs #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>How to post your Instagram photos directly to Blogger (or Wordpress) from your phone http://bit.ly/Lsq37S #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>#dfmchat MT @elanazak: NewsMap: an app to help you find local news anywhere in the world. Neat idea but not finished. http://tnw.to/1Eh0bIvan Lajara</div><div>A5. There's @curatorscode http://bit.ly/MGibXv but also @Choire in @awl http://bit.ly/MGiqC1 RT @ivanlajara: Q5. Share a link! #dfmchatGeorge Kelly</div><div>How journalists can use RebelMouse to craft Web content from social media curation http://bit.ly/KGRAID via @jeffsonderman #dfmchatIvan Lajara</div><div>Tangents: You can't have Digital First chat without Digital First cat:<br></div><div>ITTEH BITTEH KITTEH CURATES TWITTER KITTEHS INTO COMMITTEE!!! http://bit.ly/Ki4mt9 #dfmchatDigital First cat</div><div>YOU THINK CURATION IS LAME? http://twitpic.com/9tgrb4 #dfmchatDigital First cat</div>
