Project: Report Semi-Finalists Use Social Media to Promote Videos

Mark Stanley, Pulitzer Center

The key to the Pulitzer Center's mission is promoting "in-depth engagement with global affairs."

One way to foster this engagement is through the effective use of social and online media outreach.

For Project: Report, we asked the 10 semi-finalists to utilize both crowdsourcing and outreach techniques through social and online media. Below is a summary of the semi-finalists' use of social and traditional media to increase the impact of their videos.

Paul Franz used his Facebook and Twitter accounts to receive input from local journalists and people who have dealt with the topic of his Project: Report round two video Florida's "Modern Day Slavery," which has received over 291,000 views. Franz updated his Twitter account from the field while reporting, providing his followers with photos. He also linked up with the Facebook group Defend Haiti.

For social media, Franz went beyond Facebook and Twitter, submitting his video to content-sharing sites such as Digg, Mixx and Reddit. Franz's video was also posted on MyAyiti.com. Video sharing sites where Franz featured his video include Democratic Underground and MilkandCookies. Franz also posted a link to the forum of the Miami section on Yelp.com.

View Franz's vlog recapping his outreach efforts for his Project: Report work.

Alex Rozier set up the site Alex Rozier Reports to update audiences about his video project.

Rozier also created a Facebook group Project: Report 2010 - Alex Rozier, which has over 700 members, and he frequently updated his Twitter account @alexreports to inform his followers about his progress.

View Rozier's vlog recapping his outreach efforts and his Project: Report round two video The World Mobility Problem, which has received over 232,000 views.

Samantha Danis was featured on the Bangor, Maine, Fox 22 news program for her work on Project: Report. The Bangor Daily News also ran an article on Danis's reporting project "UMaine student's video in national contest." For social media, Danis joined the Facebook groups Deaf Nation and Deaf World to seek their input and support.

View Danis's three-part vlog recapping her Project: Report experience and her Project: Report round two video Without a Sound, which has received over 176,000 views.

Elan Gepner used the website Healing Philly to build collaborations and partnerships with others invested in the issue of reducing youth violence in Philadelphia, the topic of his Project: Report round two video Students Combat Violence with Community, which has received over 137,000 views.

Gepner's video was also featured on the website for the Philadelphia Public School Notebook, in the post "Student Union campaign aims to quell school violence" as well as the Philadelphia Student Union newsletter. He also set up the Heal Philly Video Blog to update audiences about his progress.

View Gepner's vlog recapping his social media efforts.

Mark Jeevaratnam updated friends and followers about his progress for Project: Report on his Facebook page. By requesting that others on Facebook post his video, he was able to work toward increasing the impact of his work. Jeevaratnam also started a Twitter account @marojeevs to update his followers on his reporting progress. Jeevaratnam was also featured on The Davidsonian Online and the Davidson College website for his Project: Report video.

View Jeevaratnam's vlog recapping his Project: Report experience and his Project: Report round two video For Higher Ground, which has received over 111,000 views.

Patrick Avilés and his Project: Report collaborator Robert Knauf contacted various grassroots organizations that had followers who would be interested in the topic of their Project: Report round two video The DREAM Act. The also did daily updates on Facebook and Twitter, and created a Facebook group.

View Aviles and Knauf's vlog recapping their Project: Report experience.

Takayuki Ono used his Facebook and Twitter accounts to increase the impact of his Project: Report round two video Metal-poisoned water plagues rural Michigan town. He also reached out to grassroots organizations and sent email alerts to people to notify them about his video.

Richgail Enriquez kept the blogs Community Update and Richgail's Notebook updated with her work for Project: Report. She also frequently updated followers on her Twitter account @Richgail.

View Enriquez's Project: Report round two video Effects of Violence Among Urban Youth in Oakland.