theintrovertedjournalist

[theintrovertedjournalist]

STATUS UPDATE: Social Media Building and Strengthening Connections

My audience continues to gradually grow as the weeks progress and the season changes. The ebb and flow of social media is not always predictable, but I notice that with each week posting to my professional Facebook, I not only am developing connections online, but also in the real world. 

I am frequently stopped by people who recognize my work which they have seen on my professional profile and am complimented for my tenacity and hard work as a photographer. When done right, social media accomplishes its intended purpose - building connections. 

This past week didn’t differ from weeks prior in terms of content I post. I find posting photo galleries with cut lines continues to be my “bread and butter”, generating the most engagement and interest. 

While I didn’t generate very many engagements on Facebook, Student Government Association President Engoma Fataki did stop me early in the week between classes to tell me how impressed he was with my work. This made my day and I am glad the work that I do inspires people enough to personally let me know they enjoyed it. 

I also posted a version of the same Western sports gallery to Instagram, and received praise from Drew Aggus and Bethany Vonseggern, both previous students at Missouri Western, and both of whom I have worked with for The Griffon Yearbook. With 20 engagements, this post performed better than my Facebook post. Typically my Facebook draws in more engagement, so this week is unique in that respect. 

Looking back on the week, I am happy with the slow growth I have seen. As my network expands, so too do my existing connections. My work allows me to connect with others in ways I personally can’t, and I appreciate all of the encouragement I get from people’s comments because it drives me to continue to improve. Social media, when done right, can be the impetus for personal growth. I noticed this truth over this semester alone. My photography has continually improved with each week, and it gladdens me that people recognize that.

[theintrovertedjournalist]

Going Live

This week a classmate and I used Facebook Live to cover an event on Missouri Western’s campus. It was the first time I ever used Facebook Live for anything other than game or desktop streaming, so it was certainly a learning experience.

Overall, our live stream earned a total of 49 engagements, and for a gradually-growing audience on my professional Facebook page, I consider that to be a decent number. 

The experience, overall, was a positive one. Personally, I am not the most comfortable person on-camera, so stepping out of my comfort zone for this assignment was a challenge, but it has helped me to become more comfortable not only with going live on social media, but also in collaborating with peers while covering an event. 

While I don’t believe I will use Facebook Live often in my day-to-day life, I think I have benefited as an up-and-coming media professional by stepping out of my comfort zone in this capacity. 

[theintrovertedjournalist]

Keeping up the Grind on Facebook

Although I did not reach any lofty number for engagements on posts this week, I am overall satisfied with what I have been able to receive. 

Between two original posts featuring photography of Missouri Western football and volleyball games, I have attracted a total of 13 engagements. This number, while better than nothing, is disappointing, considering the amount of engagement my posts usually generate. 

I followed the usual formula for these two posts, complete with a cut line, but their engagements still suffered.  However, I recognize that there are slow weeks, and that the events I cover tend to influence how well posts will do. My sports coverage always receives less engagement, without fail.

I also continued posting to various Facebook photography groups and received 30 engagements for one photo I took in New York City last spring. 

I am somewhat satisfied with my progress for this week. While it’s been more productive than some weeks so far, my engagement was lacking, especially when compared to weeks past with engagements in the hundreds. 

[theintrovertedjournalist]

The Flex of Social Media

Having spent my birthday weekend mostly disconnected from social media (at least to a higher degree than the typical day) it doesn’t come as a surprise that my engagement for the week has slowed once again. 

I posted a total of 7 times over the past week to my public profile; however, I haven’t gained much attention from these posts. I did generate some attention within a photography enthusiasts’ page for a photo I had taken last year. This post received 29 engagements.

I have noticed a flex in my social media. Of course I depend on real world opportunities to drive traffic on my profile, and I have consistently had busy weeks for the Griffon News followed by less-productive periods. I believe that once I begin cracking down on video content this semester, I will be able to invigorate my “down weeks” with original content I would otherwise not have.

[theintrovertedjournalist]

A Prediction Realized

After another week of little success on social media, I predicted last week that for the following week I would generate more engagement. With multiple posts being shared and new people commenting on them, I’ve been able to realize the prediction I had set.

My first successful post was a gallery of photos I shot of the pep rally on Friday, Oct. 11, during MIssouri Western State University’s homecoming weekend. With a standing total of 156 engagements, the beginning of my week on social media was already looking to be a success as I witnessed people commenting on and sharing my photos.

My next posts came quickly afterward, with one on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the homecoming parade and football game. Combined, these posts generated a total of 80 engagements. 

I also covered a Missouri Western volleyball game to cap off homecoming weekend. This post generated eight engagements.

To directly reach beyond my existing network, I shared a photo I had taken of the big dipper over the Nebraska countryside to a niche camera enthusiasts group. I didn’t expect much from this, but to my pleasant surprise, I have gained 45 engagements since posting late on Thursday, Oct. 17.

Looking back on an electric week on social media, I realize that in order to keep my momentum going, I need to continue not only sharing my professional work within my network, but I also need to engage more with external pages. These pages will provide many opportunities for new connections who will associate my name with quality work.

[theintrovertedjournalist]

Building an Audience on Social Media

Another week of low social media engagement meant for another week of reflection. I’ve concluded that the best way for me, personally, to engage people online is through my own work. 

There is a correlation between original content creation and engagement. Weeks wherein I posted personal/professional work versus posts I’ve “shared” with my audience always seem to generate a vastly different number of engagements on Facebook.

With only one engagement, I learned that my posts should 1) be more personal; 2) include work of my own; and 3) actively engage with the audience via a quick caption/question. 

Another post I shared this week was the latest online edition of the Griffon News. Generating zero engagements, this post was one I hoped would generate more engagement. However, I realize I should’ve taken my own advice from last week and write a caption that encourages people to read the PDF. Ultimately, without original commentary, my audience just doesn’t seem compelled to engage with content I share.

I expect this following week to be much more productive. As I work to produce the highest quality photos possible for an edition we hope to submit for a national award, I anticipate I will have many photos I am proud to share. These posts, I hope, will generate as much (or more) engagement than all of my previous weeks. Only time will tell.

[theintrovertedjournalist]

A “Slow Week” for Social Media Engagement

Because I did not cover as many events this past week for the Griffon News, my prediction that I would garner less engagement became a reality. It was pretty much the equivalent of a “slow news week” on social media for me, partially because I didn’t post as much, and partially because the content I shared received no likes. This is the result of my own laziness as a social media influencer, and writing this blog post drives home the fact that you *cannot* be lazy on social media. I posted a total of three times on my professional page for the past week, which is not an acceptable number, considering this is my primary professional social outlet. 

Going forward, I know that if I am to gain any relevance as a journalist and influencer, I need to engage more actively. I audited my entire social media presence to conclude that I should take a more active approach to storytelling on social media. This includes offering my own thoughts on articles and posts I share, as well as producing more photo-journalistic cut lines for photo content I create. 

[theintrovertedjournalist]

Social Media Engagement

While my new professional Facebook is still just that - new - my engagement has picked up quickly for the past couple of weeks. Focusing mostly on my photography, I post my own work for the Griffon News as well as journalism/photography-related third-party content.

My first notable post came from the Presidential Installation of Matthew Wilson at Missouri Western State University. Out of 17 total engagements (11 “likes” and 6 “heart” reactions) for that post, seven were from people I didn’t know. 

Another major Missouri Western event sparked my next popular post: the 26th Annual R. Dan Boulware Convocation on Critical Issues. I received 19 total engagements, including one share from President Wilson and one share from Dr. Elise Hepworth, the faculty senate president for Missouri Western. Dr. Hepworth’s post, which included a photo I took for the convocation (credited to me as its originator) generated upwards of 220 engagements.

Another notable outcome of my social media presence came when I attended to shoot the convocation, where multiple faculty members approached me and complimented my work. Jomel Nichols, Missouri Western’s head of public relations and marketing, mentioned that she would address an email to President Wilson, recognizing my work at these aforementioned events.

Moving forward, I intend to continue to tag people who are relevant to the pictures I post, as well as begin to use more hashtags to reach an even broader audience than I had previously. I believe if I employ these techniques, I will be able to reach an audience I could only have previously dreamed of. This in turn will help cultivate my brand as a photographer and journalist.

[theintrovertedjournalist]

An Introvert’s Guide to Photography

Casual photography as a hobby tends to suit the introvert. With the ability to stand behind the lens and capture moments without being a part of them, one might even say it is the ideal past time for those of us who prefer our alone time when it comes to expressing ourselves creatively. However, introverts do struggle when it comes to more social forms of photography, such as photojournalism or portraiture. For us, setting a subject at ease and collecting quotes is no simple feat, meaning a productive photography session can become unfruitful in an instant.

As a continually-learning, introverted photographer and journalist, I live the struggle of having to communicate even when I don’t want to. While I am not perfect at the art of overcoming my fears (in fact, I’m far from it), I still manage to get what needs to be done, done. Here are four ways you, too, can overcome the seemingly impossible obstacle of social interaction, and capture key moments no matter the situation...

1. Find your niche and master it.

“Easier said than done!” you say? While you’d be correct, finding what you’re good at and perfecting it (whether it is landscape, portrait, street photography, etc.) is an ideal way to boost your confidence, and of course, know-how, within that niche. As a result, you won’t have to juggle (as much) insecurity while framing and exposing photos. This means you will be more at ease, by default making your social interactions much easier. Of course, if your interest is landscape photography, you need not worry about that very much in the first place!

This photo, taken in July 2018, was an example of a turning point in my evolution as an introverted photographer. As part of a photojournalism assignment, I was tasked with creating a series of photographs which told a story. I was already quite comfortable with my photography skills at this point, so gathering quotes and conducting interviews to create lengthy cutlines for my series was much easier to tackle.

2. Bring an extroverted photographer friend along.

If you can’t seem to quash your paralyzing fear of socialization, or have severe anxiety problems, you could always recruit an extroverted friend who is familiar with your photography to help you set your subject at ease. Your friend can place and pose your subject according to what (s)he knows about your style and you can take the shots. You may even find it much more bearable to socialize and take control with a trusted friend at your side anyway, so it really is a win-win situation!

3. Use your telephoto lens.

You don’t have to be a social butterfly to grab fantastic people-photos. You might simply wish to shoot photos whilst fading into the background, and I do too. Introverted photographers from all niches can and do prefer their trusty telephoto lens in these situations. Remaining far from the action is also a way to ensure truly candid moments for capture, as your subjects may not even be aware they’re being photographed. Just make sure you’re on public property first! 

4. EXPLORE! 

If you’re at a jam-packed event, chances are there will be plenty of fellow photographers in attendance. While I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people, go where everyone else isn’t when you want to start taking photos. Playing to your personal comfort is not always a negative thing. Finding that unique angle where no one else is shooting from can help set you apart from your competition, giving you the opportunity to shoot a photo that has never been captured before. This tip is two-pronged, however, because while exploring to unique locations can allow you to slip away, they can also draw attention to yourself. In this situation, do not pay any attention to the glances that come your direction. While you may feel people are scrutinizing you intensely, they are simply curious.

This photo was taken as recently as today, at the installation ceremony for my University’s president. I was able to capture this image by climbing to the top of gymnasium bleachers, where I was in plain view of everyone in attendance. By not letting my anxiety get to me, and focusing on my photo, I was able to capture this awesome moment without trouble. 

The life of an introvert is all about adaptability, and by keeping these tips in mind, you will be able to capture your favorite moments no matter what situation you’re in. With that said, I am interested in hearing about some of your experiences as an introverted photographer. If you have something to share, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or message!

[theintrovertedjournalist]

Three Ways Introverts can Excel in Media Professions

Finding a long-term career that suits the introvert can be merely daunting in some cases and an absolutely debilitating goal to tackle in others. In the realm of media, introverts have it rough, but this does not indicate incompatibility.

As a third-year student journalist, I’ve had more than enough time to reflect on my own skills as they compare to my personal shortcomings as an introvert. While I continue to attempt to mold myself into a marketable prospect on the journalistic job market through various classes, jobs and under talented professors, my mind inevitably returns to a misguided belief that I am inadequate for a position in journalism. 

Whether it is the worry of not being able to hold a smooth, flowing conversation during an interview, or the anxiety of asking for permission to film and photograph, I must always traverse a maze of difficult personal obstacles in order to perform as best I can as a media professional. 

What I’ve noticed though is that an introvert can not only succeed, but also excel in this especially extroverted profession, if they keep some key pointers in mind.

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare!

An introvert in any industry should always give themselves extra time to prepare for any situation which involves social interaction. As a journalist, you will interact with all manner of people from the public, law enforcement and other sectors of society on a daily basis, so it is important to give yourself the time necessary to fall into a healthy head space for socialization. This will enable you not only to focus more on the questions you want to ask and the photographs you want to capture, but also to set your interviewee or subject at ease. 

Jobs in hard-news and soft-news alike present special challenges to those with extreme introversion, and while preparation is vital for introvert and extrovert alike, those of us less socially-inclined would benefit from giving ourselves more time to adjust.

2. Fake it ‘til you make it.

Human beings are social creatures. Both introverts and extroverts are happier if they maintain a relatively healthy social life. For extroverts, this is first nature. For introverts, on the other hand, this requires some acting. While the introvert might contest with the suggestion to “fake it” on the grounds that they are being inauthentic, a study from the Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests acting the part of an extrovert can lead to higher happiness in introverts. 

Closing oneself off is the death of the journalist. It can lead one to miss deadlines, avoid pursuing a story past its bare minimum requirements and decrease the energy of one’s colleagues. 

3. Use your listening skills to elevate your reporting.

Introverts commonly pride themselves on being good listeners. If you are among these people, you can use your listening skills to your advantage! Many journalists today are rapid-fire in the interviewing process, steering the conversation in ways they wish to take it. The strength of listening can play well into setting you apart from your colleagues, enabling you to let your interviewee do more of the talking. Especially in feature-style reporting, you will be able to glean more juicy details out of your questions.