Updated: Summer 2012

Tweeting for NCCNews

1. Even if you already have a personal Twitter account, you are required to create a professional account, JUST for use in BDJ courses. Go to www.twitter.com and sign up (it’s free). Use your real name for the account so readers know who you are. Again, the account you create will be designed JUST for class-related Tweets. You should also use a professional looking icon for this account. No photos of a smiling cat or you at the beach, etc.!

2. Tweeting from your phone if you do not have a smart phone: You can only associate your phone with one twitter account, so you'll have to decide if you want your personal or professional account associated with your phone.

3. To link to your phone, click on the downward arrow in the upper right corner of your twitter home page and then click on Settings. In SETTINGS, click on MOBILE. Follow the directions for entering your mobile phone number. o Note: “ Send Tweets using text messages with your phone. Just send your tweets to 40404.”

5. You are required to use a hash tag specific to your class section to help your professor easily find your tweets. It's very simple, if you are in section one include #BDJ1, if you are in section two, use #BDJ2 and if you are in section three, you guessed it, use #BDJ3.

6. The content of the Tweet should be an update on your story, not a subjective personal thought. For example: #bdj1 (for section one) Four car accident on Tipp Hill about 10:30, two people sent to the hospital. More details soon on nccnewsonline.com

7. To see how journalists are using twitter, consider following: rachbarnhart [reporter, WHAM-TV, Rochester], markknoller [CBS radio White House correspondent] or janabarnello [alum who reports in Chattanooga]