How to create a virtual reality 3-D panorama with your phone for Google Cardboard, for free

I'm sharing this 'tutorial' in the hopes of improving it with your input and because I googled this very thing and I couldn't quite find what I needed, so I'm trying to figure it out.

The concept is simple. Panorama and 3-D apps have been around for a while. With the advent of Google Cardboard, a lot of these images can now be seen in virtual reality. The idea then is to construct an image and making it available for others to see as panoramas, but mostly in virtual reality. The challenge is to do it for free. Sure, it'd be nice to have a 3-D rig with 16 GoPro cameras for 3-D video, but lol newsroom budgets.

On that note, the New York Times, The Washington Post, Vice and others are exploring virtual reality photo and video storytelling and their efforts are worth watching.  The Times is even giving away cardboard to support their upcoming VR app.  It's very early, still and everyone is still trying to figure things out.

So let's jump in and do it ourselves.

DFM chat on experimentation (when you have no time)

This is from my newsletter. Seriously.

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about experimentation! And when you have no time! CRAZY! How do you even go about it? What kinds of things can journalists try when the workload is so heavy? Are there experiments that might save time? What tools can journalist use and/or experiment with?
The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat: Disrupting the summer coverage

I was using Google Glass as well. Hence the photo.

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about ~disrupting~ the summer coverage. You've got your festivals, parades, concerts and gatherings. What are the best ways to cover such events? What tools do you bring? How do you maximize your audience and participation? Bring your toolkit!

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat: Twitter for small newsroom — What's ideal vs. what's real

Answer: "Never tweet."

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about Twitter use for small newsrooms: What is ideal vs. what's real. How do you maintain a presence and how do you use it if you're short on resources? Is it worth it if the community you cover is barely using the service? (Short answer: Yes. Let's find out why).

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on using live mobile video

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about mobile live video. What is the value of using live-streaming apps like newcomers Periscope, Meerkat or Ustream, Livestream and the others? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using those apps? What's then, the best way to implement their use in news coverage? Bring your #realtalk (and your livestreaming apps).

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on how to integrate social media into your newsroom's workflow, for everyone

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time. 

Today we are talking about how to integrate social media into a newsroom's workflow. Does every journalist in a newsroom need to be active in social media?  What are the baseline social media skills for journalists? What about copy editors or designers? How do you measure such engagement in a qualitative way? Bring your ideas, your tools and your #realtalk. #Realtalk is mandatory.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on how to visualize content for social media, for free

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about how to improve the impact of your social media posts by adding media. What kinds of visualizations work for what platforms? What tools can you easily and quickly use that are free? Bring your toolkit (or just lurk!) and your #realtalk. 

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on how to deal with a social media fail

Example of a brand using a trending topic without understanding the context #Advertising #SocialMedia #WhyIStayed pic.twitter.com/iTSmfaT6Xv
— Scott Paul (@scottatslee) September 9, 2014

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about how to deal with a social media FAIL. It happens! How do you react when you mess up on Twitter, either as an individual journalist or with your news account? How do you respond when people are piling up on you on Facebook, be it for typos, miscommunication or perceived insensitivity? What do you do if you post something that ends up being a hoax? How do you deal with provocations? Bring your lessons and your #realtalk.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on what journalism can learn from social media, and the other way around

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about what can journalism learn from social media. But also, what can social media learn from journalism. What can social media do to increase the impact of a story?  Are there necessary journalistic practices being eroded because of social media? Bring your #realtalk.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on responsible aggregation

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are revisiting what seems to be a perennial topic: Aggregation.

How much block-quoting is too much? Are there instances where using large parts of someone else's work OK, like, say, annotations? What about tweeted photos of large parts of text, even if highlighted? What is the proper way to use someone else's content, like photos, online?

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat: How local news organizations can build digital audiences

Facebook reach?
Or boa constrictor digesting an elephant?

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about how local news organizations can build their online communities. This comes on the heels of a study that pretty much concludes we're doing a terrible job at it. The solution?

In order to grow their audiences, Hindman says local newspapers must answer two related questions: How can they make news “stickier” compared to all the other content on the web? And how can local news sites attract some of the audience that currently only reads national news sites?

Well, let's try answer those questions. Shall we?

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat: Should news organizations post their directly content to Facebook?

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about posting content to social media. Not links. The stuff.
Facebook is reportedly preparing a partnership with news organizations to host their content there. What are the benefits and risks of such partnerships? What should other news organizations do in the meantime?
The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat: Do metrics guide your decisions? How?

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are revisiting metrics (meta factoid: metrics show it's a popular topic). How do you measure a good user experience? What are the trappings of not using metrics properly? How do you avoid the race for pageviews?
The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on strategies for emerging social networks and rising platforms

I don't know how to Snapchat

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking strategies for new and emerging social networks and publishing to other platforms. Should newsrooms have strategies for Snapchat, Vine, Meerkat? What should be the goals for Tumblr? Or Pinterest? Or Instagram? Should small newsrooms even bother?
The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat on the essential mobile tool kit for journalists

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Google Glass helps (especially when it's cold),
but is it essential?

Today we are talking mobile toolkit for journalists. What are the essential equipment for reporters? What about apps? How can the newsroom implement those tools into their workflow and how does it benefit and improve your journalism? Bring your tools, #realtalk and issues.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFMchat on hacking journalism when you've got no developers

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about how to hack, or rethink your journalism offerings digitally, especially when you've got limited or no resources and/or time. But let's not be abstract and get to the actual how-tos for specific topics and situations. What tool can you use for a story that has a long trail. What can you do with documents? But also, how much time can you and should you dedicate to each endeavor?  Bring your tips and ideas! And tools!

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFMchat on ingenious Twitter uses for journalism

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about Twitter as a journalism tool, and not just a traffic machine. But let's go beyond the usual useful uses and find and share ingenious ideas to make the service even more valuable. How can videos uploaded directly to Twitter help? Have you checked how many app installs have occurred because of your news account's tweets? Bring your tips and ideas!

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat: How to improve routine stories

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about stories! How do you improve routine coverage of news?
But! Does everything need to be a story? Really? Bring your ideas, links and #realtalk.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

Can Internet comments be saved?

Not an Internet comment.But wait! There's MOAR!

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we comment about comments, again. As they move more and more to social platforms, is it worth having them in your own site?

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

DFM chat tackles how to post to Facebook as it constantly changes its algorithm

#fail

Greetings!

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time. If you got here because a college teacher sent you, *high five cat gif* But seriously how do you guys find this?

Anyway! Today we tackle Facebook. As the algorithm changes —and, boy, does it change?— so does journalists' way of posting and the implications of such changes, like uploading video to Facebook as opposed to just posting a link to the video. "Post great content" is great and all that, but there are lingering questions. Should you sponsor your posts? Should you upload your hard-to-produce videos? Bring your questions, your #realtalk, your links and tips.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.