Incorporating Live Video

On Wednesday our class was able to video-chat via Skype with Elizabeth Stephens, who works at the Colombia Missourian at the University of Missouri. She told us about how they have incorporated (or not incorporated) different types of live videos, like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Periscope, and Meerkat, into their reporting process. Out of all these, she recommends Facebook live because it gives users the ability to go back and view the video after it has happened, unlike Instagram live or Periscope. Her advice on how to livestream was incredibly insightful, including tips like trying to always livestream for 10 minutes or over so that people have time to see the notification that you went live and decide to watch the stream. She explained that it is not always appropriate to livestream a situation as it unfolds due to the risk of accidentally broadcasting personal, offensive, or graphic content. If you are on the scene, it is best to take pictures and quotes that you can use and screen later on, while possibly using a live stream to broadcast press statements. Overall, I now see the merits of this type of technology and I look forward to seeing how it evolves in the realm of social media.