Ruben Bouwmeester | On 29, Jan 2014

Every week, we provide interesting links from around the web that discuss issues regarding the verification processes of content from social media. Here is our list for this week.

 

 

1. How do they train journalists to stay on top at the BBC UGC & Social Media Hub?

“One thing hasn’t changed: the editorial values and principles that underpin everything we do”, according to Trushar Barot, assistant editor of the BBC’s UGC and Social Media Hub.

A helpful description of the enormous amount of ‘hands on’ work and tools that can assist you whilst doing the job.

Source: BBC Academy / College of Journalism blog and BBC

 

 2. Separating Social Media facts from Social Media fiction

Again a confirmation that Social Media may have changed how journalism works, but its principles have not changed fundamentally.

“Our experiences at Storyful over the past year have once more demonstrated to us the importance of maintaining these responsibilities; separating fact from fiction, verifying sources, fact checking, behaving critically.” (Joe Galvin, 16 Dec 2013)

Source: Storyful Blog

 

3. Twitter account verification, and how to spot fakes

Apparently it is not too difficult to manipulate Twitter verification. Kris Holt of the Daily Dot explains how to spot a fake from a real verified Twitter account.

Another perspective comes from Twitter who explains us how to get a verified Twitter account. It really does not seem to be difficult but can anyone explain the process in detail? (Referenced video is a bit old but still worth watching!)

Source: Twitter, TechCrunch, and The Daily Dot

 

4. Under construction: photography app with built-in verification data

A grant from the Knight News Challenge will fund a project developing a mobile app that is to help amateur journalists send photos to news organizations securely and with embedded verification data. Why securely?

“That same data that helps the BBC confirm that this was filmed in a particular town in Syria by a particular person on a particular day, is of course the same information that can be valuable to a repressive government or someone who has worse intentions”, according to Sam Gregory, programe director of Witness who received the grant.

Source: Poynter

 

5. How geolocation may play a bigger role in future newsgathering

Technology will surely help us taking on challenges in UGC verification. Geolocation analysis is one of them.

There are also other ways of helping out journalists. In this article, Trushar Barot deputy editor of the BBC’s UGC and Social Media Hub, provides a striking example: “… we started seeing new information in the crowds, people holding placards with the date and location to help journalists around the world.”

Source: Journalism.co.uk