Taking Advantage of New Features

With technology rapidly changing, social media platforms continue to add features and updates to stay on top of the game. In order to stay on top of their game, journalists must constantly educate themselves on these new features and utilize them while reporting.

Two of the more recent features include Instagram TV and Snapchat Subscriptions. They allow users to upload videos that are longer than stories and can be curated with more thought behind them. Journalists need to take advantage of these ever changing features to enhance their reporting.

Instagram TV

Is Instagram trying more and more to be like Youtube? With their new IGTV feature, they might be. Users can upload youtube-like videos to the app for even more content and audience engagement. Videos can be up to ten minutes long if you are not verified, and 60 minutes if you are verified.

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How to effectively use IGTV:

1. Know the appropriate length:

Know your audience well enough to know how long your IGTV videos should be. Some people won’t watch a 10 minute video on Instagram, while some want more than 1:50

2. Be consistent

Post videos consistently. Maybe set up a schedule so your audience knows exactly when to expect an IGTV video from you

3. Don't copy and paste

Don’t post the exact same thing on your youtube, stories, snapchat and IGTV. Use it as a way to post unique content. No one wants to watch the same video 5 times. Mix it up.

4. Keep the conversation going

End your video with a conversation starter. It’ll compel your audience to leave comments and you’ll be able to engage with them even more. This will set you apart from other journalists and give you more credibility and trust.

Snapchat Subscriptions

With Snapchat Subscriptions, the app has become a news platform. Utilizing the subscription feature can gain journalists a wider audience and media companies can target their next generation of followers.

Many news media outlets have began using Snapchat Subscriptions to target younger audiences.

How to effectively use Snapchat Subscriptions:

1. Catch their attention

Snapchat subscriptions allows for fun graphics, filters, and gifs. The app is generally used for quick videos that users can tap through if not interesting enough- the more compelling your story is the less likely a user is to tap through it.

2. Hyperlink

Snapchat allows a “swipe up” feature in order to link to outside content. Because Snapchat uses shorter videos, keep it going by utilizing other outside media such as articles, videos and websites.

3. Know who's watching

Snapchat is generally used by a younger audience. Know which platform is used by who. Your content on snapchat should be targeted to that audience, instead of the audience that uses, for example, Facebook.

4. Cohesive content

Your snapchat subscription story should have an overarching theme to it. The theme doesn't have to be the same every single week, but it should flow throughout each subscription story. It’s easy to follow and doesn’t seem as scattered.

Journalists should become literate in all different social media platforms and all their updates. Although it may be a lot, it’ll help in the long run. Do you think you’ll use IGTV or Snapchat Subscriptions? Which, as a consumer, do you like better?