Online Journalism: Wikis

Paul BradshawSenior Lecturer, Online Journalism, Birmingham City University, UK (mediacourses.com)Blogger, Online Journalism Blog

Online journalism: wikis

wiki wiki

“fast”

anyone

edit

history

discussion

collaboration

The public wikiThe article wikiThe internal wiki

What do your

readers know?

LA Times ‘wikitorial’

Wired

problems

vandalism

inaccuracy

Lack of activity

registration

moderation

promotion

Clear objective

and guidelines

Not a replacement,

but an enhancemen

t

HistoriesTips ListsCorrectionsContacts & leads…?

PBwikiSocial TextXwikiZoho wikiGoogle Docs

Do something now

• Think of how you might use a public wiki for a story/issue in your area

• Present your idea to others & discuss – why would you contribute? Why this and not another platform?

(Some suggestions from earlier)

• Story behind the store• Fashion tips• History of trends, designer profiles• Experiences of giving up smoking/etc.• Experiences of emergency services• Best & worst schools• School memories• School services – yoga, etc.• Festival celebrations• Afro-C food tips• Traffic hotspots• 11 circle route guide• Band, venue• Gay village nights out guide• History of ‘being gay’• Women in sport• Bad/good experiences with tech• New technologies – tips• Get best out of mobile phone/ipod – hidden features & downloads• Dodgy downloads• Experiences of crime• Travel stories – how Polish got here• Schools, settling in, jobs, English

The challenge

• How can you create a more active community around your site? (POST – People, Objective, Strategy, Technology)

• How can you be a more active community member?

(Some suggestions from earlier)

• Not ‘one audience’…• Thanking blogs on their comments with link to ENO• Flash mobs – hug a tree? – mobile • Rickrolling for eco-heads (viral) – litter happy slapping – • A big idea – community project• Email signature• on blogroll• Actively seeking out new blogs & commenting/linking (being nice)• Bookmarking in Delicious, Digg, Reddit• Facebook fan page & groups• Merchandise – Screenshirt, Moo cards, stickers• Widget for others to put on site – Feedburner• Pledge widget • Forums • Twitterfeed• Delicious network• Flickr thanks

How can you engage more in online communities?

Things to do next...

• Engage in a new community - lurk, contribute, create…

• Then plan one of your own - and the POST strategy for it

Paul BradshawCourse Director, MA Online Journalism, School of Media, Birmingham City University, UK (mediacourses.com)

Blogger, Online Journalism Blog

[email protected]

Twitter.com/paulbradshaw