It’s being called “the next big thing in social media,” and its name can conjure up images of wine country or perhaps Wrigley Field.  But I assure you that Vine, a new mobile app from Twitter, has absolutely nothing to do with alcohol or baseball, at least on the surface. While Vine is most simply [...]

In addition to changing how we communicate and share information, social media has also changed how people watch sports.  Whether you’re at a sports bar, hanging out with friends, or watching the game alone, fans can instantly become a part of a much larger conversation via social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. During [...]

Border battle produces Super Bowl-like ratings Most Minnesotans who had their TV sets on between 3:25 and 7:00 p.m. on December 30 were watching the Vikings squeeze into the playoffs by beating division rival Green Bay.  According to a Tweet by KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, adults ages 25-54 got a 35.0 rating and an 81 share.  [...]

Local paper competes with TV news for election night audience Election night used to be an event dominated by television stations that brought anchors and crews to local hotel ballrooms to wait for victory or concession speeches.  Now it’s more than just the TV stations that provide comprehensive coverage in real time with a host, [...]

The 2012 London Olympics are expected to set record-level social media engagement between the media, spectators and athletes. However, the level of connectedness between these groups can open up its own can of worms – including a higher level of scrutiny over the information being shared. The opening ceremony hasn’t even begun and already trouble [...]

Twitter fun aids Duluth Severe weather is the holy grail of reporting in the Twin Cities, so it’s no surprise that news organizations covered every angle of the Duluth floods last week.  But the story that rose to the top was not about the disastrous effects of the heavy rain; it was about Feisty, the [...]

From local journalists to industry experts, below are the people we follow closely on Twitter. @MrMediaTraining:  A former national journalist, Brad Phillips provides insightful tips for spokespeople and examples of what you should and shouldn’t do during a media interview. @SPACC_Kramer:  Matt Kramer, president of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, offers a witty [...]

KSTP story inspires change during sweeps month For television news, May is a ratings month.  This means that stations typically air highly publicized investigative pieces to draw as many viewers as possible.  While Twin Cities stations filed a number of reports that caught our eye, a certain KSTP story stood out above the rest. Donald [...]

You see the title everywhere, in job postings, resumes, in news stories, and online. “We are looking for a social media expert who can [INSERT JOB DESCRIPTION]”… “We interviewed social media expert [NAME]”…. “I am a social media expert who can [INSERT RESUME SUMMARY]” But how does one earn this title?  Did they pass a [...]

Whitney Houston’s death, the threat of snow, and redistricting topped the headlines this month.  Below are the stories behind the stories. Twitter breaks news Whitney Houston’s tragic death on February 11 shocked the nation.  Notably, news of her death was first reported on Twitter by a niece of one of Houston’s staff, 27 minutes before [...]