Networking sites like Facebook and Myspace provide an outlet for individuals to voice their opinions not only for fun but in times of tragedy. These sites serve as a forum for those looking for answers. In times of school shootings, like at Virginia Tech and recently at Northern Illinois University, students turned to Facebook to connect with classmates.
High school newspapers have their say, too. Publications are using these sites as a publishing tool. Five editors at North Central High School in Indianapolis posted content on Facebook allowing students to view upcoming issues and extra content like photos that were not in printed issues. Students can also engage in surveys and post feedback.
The Paly Voice from Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Cal, used Facebook to report the news of an earthquake in their area. The editor, Michael Bloch, contacted students through the site for interviews. The staff was actually one of the first to report the story which appeared on Google News.
We’re interested about what your staff is doing. Let us know what unique ways you’re using networking sites or other means of communication for reporting stories.
