Social News Gathering Verification Principles

Shamar Walters from NBCU Academy introduces the basics of social news gathering, emphasizing the role of the social news gathering team in breaking news and investigative projects. The video covers the importance of user-generated content (UGC) and the need for verification to ensure accuracy. It also provides guidelines for reaching out to sources, highlighting ethical considerations and the value of direct communication in journalism.

What is the primary role of the social news gathering team at NBC News?

• To conduct interviews with celebrities

• To manage NBC News' social media accounts

• To find, verify, and report stories using social media

• To create social media content

Which event did the social news gathering team act as digital first responders?

• The 2020 Presidential Election

• The January 6 riots on Capitol Hill

• The COVID-19 pandemic

• The 2016 Olympics

What does UGC stand for in the context of social news gathering?

• User-Generated Content

• Unique General Content

• United Group of Creators

• Universal Global Content

Why is verification important in social news gathering?

• To create engaging stories

• To promote the content on different platforms

• To ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the content

• To increase the number of social media followers

What should you do if you find a photo or video on social media that you want to use in your reporting?

• Use it immediately without any verification

• Share it on your personal social media account

• Verify the content and reach out to the original source

• Ignore it and look for other content

What is a good guiding principle when verifying information or content?

• Use content from verified social media accounts only

• Find independent sources to corroborate the information

• Always trust the first source you find

• Rely on popular social media accounts

Why is it important to talk to people directly when working with UGC?

• To get their permission to use the content

• To create a personal connection with the source

• To increase your social media followers

• To promote your news organization

What additional information can the original source of UGC provide?

• Their favorite news channels

• Their social media password

• Additional details and context about the content

• Their personal opinions on unrelated topics

When engaging with a source who has experienced a traumatic event, what should you pay attention to?

• The language they are using in their posts

• The time they posted the content

• The number of likes on their post

• Their profile picture

Why is it important to be sensitive when contacting sources through social media?

• To avoid legal issues

• To respect their circumstances and experiences

• To get more followers

• To make the news more interesting