GWNov 19, 2022
ProPublica

Wow.... 1,100 followers so far 🤯 many of whom are in the same "How exactly do we use this thing?" boat as us.

We'll obviously be using this platform to share our stories just as we do on Twitter and FB, but would appreciate your thoughts on what could be done here that might be unique or different for the Mastodon audience.

Nov 18, 2022 at 10:56pmWeb
Show thread🇺🇦 Sean Prophet ⚛Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica Just keep the posts coming. Use subject-matter hashtags, and people can sort for themselves.
Show threadAndrew PorterNov 18, 2022
@ProPublica I do recommend if you are using a web browser to go into settings under Appearance and turn on the Advanced view. Despite the name I think it is easier for a newcomer to figure out how things work with it.
Show threadProPublicaNov 18, 2022
@adfporter That is a much nicer experience! Thanks 😀
Show threadSuzanne TyrpakNov 18, 2022
@ProPublica use hashtags, lots of them. Like #News #Politics. Follow others, so the feed is interesting. Use cw, so you get a headline, and more people will repost your post--it's more discreet.
Show threadRochelle W.Nov 19, 2022
@SuzanneTyrpak @ProPublica Yes, I am more likely to boost a political story or anything that stirs up emotions for the community if it's wrapped. #WrapForMoreAction #WrappingIsCaring #CW
Show threadSterling Hammer Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica welcome aboard! I love what you all do!
Show threadWendy MsGator 🐊Nov 18, 2022

@ProPublica

If doing either long posts or any posts with sensitive or emotive content (including political), please make the CW (content warning) your friend. The CW can basically be used as the subject line. Also hashtags at the end of a story so that your content can be found in here. And pictures are preferred to have Alt text included for visually impaired readers please. Welcome. 😎

Show threadjosh buermannNov 18, 2022

@WendyMsGator @ProPublica

Everything they publish is political and their local instance is called "news", so the CW on political posts might be a little redundant.

Show threadWendy MsGator 🐊Nov 19, 2022

@buermann @ProPublica

They asked, I answered. 😀

Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Nov 19, 2022
@WendyMsGator @buermann @ProPublica It is and it isn’t. Keep in mind their stuff will hopefully be boosted beyond their immediate context and some instances have greater sensitivity to the lack of CWs than others.
Show threadjosh buermannNov 19, 2022

@shawrd773 @WendyMsGator @ProPublica

If I was so apolitical I did not want to see any political content I would simply block newsie.social and journa.host outright and never bear witness to their toots, boosted or not.

CWs are a consideration for one's audience, seems pretty silly to put them up for empty rooms.

Show threadAlexander Hamizdat Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica don't track people without consent (ahem journa.host ahem)
Show threadblackknight95857669Nov 18, 2022

@ProPublica

This site should answer all your questions:
https://fedi.tips/

Welcome, glad to see you here.

Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse

An unofficial guide to using Mastodon and the Fediverse

Show threadcarodjah!✨tune in wednesday✨Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica cats in newsie hats announcing the headline?
Show threadTim Ellis (he/him) DJDynamicNCNov 18, 2022
@ProPublica Welcome aboard! We follow you in Canada too :)
Show threadSteve Foerster 🌐Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica People think that Mastodon is complicated, but it's pretty simple: follow anyone who looks even remotely interesting, boost anything that you particularly like, and post as often as you have anything to say. The rest really works itself out.
Show threadDubi is here Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica please verify your identify by placing a link back to your account on your website with a rel="me" attribute
Show threadKP Nov 18, 2022
@ProPublica Just keep on keepin' on, you guys do great work 🤟👊
Show threadDaveNov 18, 2022
Get the webadmin of https://www.propublica.org/ to put a rel="me" link on the home page so the link in your bio shows as verified ✅
Investigative Journalism and News in the Public Interest

ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

ProPublica
Show threadRed House LifeNov 18, 2022
@ProPublica I’m not sure that anyone has mention Alt text on images yet, but please make sure to add it for friends using screen readers. Also, be a real person not a broadcaster. This is a good start!
Show threadjzed74Nov 19, 2022
@ProPublica WE NEED “QUOTE-TWEET” CAPACITY.
Show threadatomicangelNov 19, 2022

@jzed74 @ProPublica

I’m fine just boosting the original toot, and if I really have anything of value to add I’ll comment on it directly, keeping everything at the source material. That way, people on my feed can see the original source and discuss anything they want there. If a separate discussion is warranted, then I can make an original posting for the same material.

I think this keeps things organized and allows for us to engage in meaningful conversation without toots falling into a cesspool. A good example are the comment sections of Tweets involving #politics

Show threadMark Sussman Nov 19, 2022

@ProPublica Here are some ideas that are uniquely #Mastodon

1) Use #hashtags liberally when posting #news to maximize #exposure

2) 500 characters for more thoughtful, in-depth posts/toots

3) Boosting/RTing is a primary way to amplify posts, so use your following to boost smaller voices

Show threadSandi FoxNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica we are all in this together! And all sick of Elon's antics
Show thread9_tellthetruthNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica Yeeeeea you're here!
Show threadsub rosaNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica @ProPublica best place for accurate news. thank-you.
Show threadHamilton 350Nov 19, 2022
@ProPublica highly recommend following this bot account to get image caption reminders!
Show threadSam BosbachNov 19, 2022

@ProPublica One thing I'd love to see more organizations do is set up their own instances for a) their staff and b) their core audience.

As a closed-instance, the former would serve as a default verification for all employees. As an open instance, the latter would allow a community to develop around your mission.

That sort of community-building is exactly what the #fediverse is well-structured to do contra other social media!

Show threadJames SlezakNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica glad you’re on here!!
Show thread🌍🚩🌹 🇨🇭 Sämu 🇨🇭🌹 🚩🌍Nov 19, 2022

@ProPublica

More info on #mastodon:
mastodon.help

More info on #fediverse: fedi.tips

Check out the Fediverse server network: index.community/

Show threadDebra AdamsNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica very glad to see you!
Show threadBALGalleryNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica use hashtags before a share with I guess like a keyword. This helps others find your content. Correct me if I am wrong Mastodon people.
Show threadMark ThompsonNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica Given the new follow-hashtag functionality (which is very useful), in addition to the liberal topic hashtagging you currently do, consider creating and using a unique hashtag for each of your major stories (for all its postings, comments, etc), so people can follow a story and all its followons and discussions of it. For example, #PPLandlordRenterJustice
Show threadMichael LabowiczNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica welcome!
Show threadmaraNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica The two most important things are hashtags (2-5 at the end) and content warnings with a good amount of detail (not just a couple of words).
Show threadRobb Aley AllanNov 19, 2022
@ProPublica Use this platform as an opportunity to start conversations with readers. Unlike Twitter — which by design limits how much can be said and encourages random comments — Mastodon gives more room to thoughtful reactions and questions. And your audience is self-selecting, so more likely to be serious.
Show threadBigTentUSA Nov 20, 2022
@ProPublica Great you are on this platform! #politics #democracy
Show threadVictor BjelkholmNov 29, 2022
@ProPublica Setting up your own instance under @propublica.org and letting journalists have "official" accounts under the instance would certainly be something you can't do elsewhere :)