Display Recent Twitter Posts on Blog Site

This is the second blog in a series that discusses methods of connecting a WordPress Blog and a Twitter site.

The simplest way of displaying Twitter Tweets ( a tweet is a Twitter posts) on a WordPress blog is by activating the Twitter widget on WordPress.

Go to the Dashboard of the WordPress blog. Click on ‘Appearance’ on the left side. Then click ‘Widgets’. In the list of ‘Widgets’ find ‘Twitter’ and drag-and-drop it into any position on the ‘sidebar’.

After dropping the widget fill in the name of the link (use any name you want – see ‘Dill Tweets’), fill in the Twitter user name and the number of tweets to display; five is the default.

To edit the Twitter widget bar find the arrow on the right side of the widget bay and open up the edit window. WordPress hid that for some reason we will never know. Probably a nerdism.

Side note: Begin adding tags for all blog posts. Tags are like keywords that help users and search engines search blogs. More on tags in another post.

WordPress Plugins – WordPress and Twitter

Plugins for WordPress helps turn blogs into efficient information conduits.

A plugin is a program (or bundle of programs) that is installed on a WordPress blog site that will accomplish one or more specific function(s).

These are some of the benefits:
– Help market blog site through search engines
– Help readers facilitate searching blog
– Keep networking sites linked
– Save time, no need to enter information on multiple networking sites
– Help build and market blog to gain advertising revenue

One example of a WordPress plugin is get information from a Twitter site back to a WordPress blog.

Most plugins are free; some are not

Darren Rouse, ‘the man behind ProBlogger,’ maintains a site dedicated to blogging and tweeting. He helps bloggers get started with plugins with his blog post 10 WordPress Plugins for New Blogs.

Over the next few blogs I will explain, by example, how to select and install a Twitter feed plugin on my WordPress blog.

Start with a Twitter site. Go to Twitter and sign. up. It is free and takes a few minutes. Make a post. ‘Follow’ other people and they may become ‘followers.’

I am posting links on my Twitter site to my articles that are published in online media. I also post about my WordPress blog, which brings us back to the reason for looking at a plugin that saves keyboarding time. Don’t double post when software can save do it and save the time?
Next blog I will look at the various free plugins that are available. I will choose one and begin ‘plugin’.

For those that want to work ahead, Tweet My Blog is a top plugin candidate.

Blog Basics – Acquire and Retain Readers

Building and maintaining a blog that attracts and retains readers is not magic. However, it does require a persistent focus and must be incorporated into your professional life.

A journalist discovers and sculpts stories. The stories must have channels in order to get the words and images from the source to the reader. Use your blog as one of those channels.

Tom Hung presents the five prerequisites for blogging success on the site, ProBlogger.

Author, Ted Demopoulos, presents tips and guidelines blog for serious bloggers on his site, Blogging for Business.

See the Demopoulos post on why most bloggers NEVER get much traffic.

Also, Demopoulos presents the guidelines for acquiring and retaining readers.

Blog Garage

Put your blog in the Blog Garage and give it a thorough checkup.

Take a look at these two mechanics.  Chris Pearson at Personified and Lorelle VanPossen on WordPress.

The blog begins with the word. Think about the typography.

Text is easiest read in a serif typeface. This has been proven by many researchers and the spreed read professional, Evelyn Wood.

“Some designers sometimes tend to forget that the primary function of type is to be read, and there are some typefaces that are totally unreadable….When it comes to choosing between serif and sans serif typefaces, serif is definitely better for body copy. That is a proven fact. Evelyn Wood’s Reading Dynamics proved absolutely that you can read serif type faster… long copy should never be in sans serif, ” says David Merrill, former art director, Time magazine. reference

In order to get control over using serif for body type and sanserif for heads and subheads, your WordPress theme may have to be changed.

Top Blogs, Top Blogging – Take a Tour

Writing a blog that continually receives a high number of viewers requires consistently publishing posts that are read and spread through the Internet by the readers.

Top blogs all provide the same core tenets of top journalism – news worthiness, excellent writing, useful information and human interest.

As you will see the top blog sites have grown into aggregation sites focused around themes that are of interest to the blogger.  Aggregation is a way for the blogger to share a world with their readers beyond their own writing.

Settle back and let’s take a tour of the top blog sites, according to most viewed statistics. And, the worst blog site will also get a high viewer rating – once – and remain on the top worst blogs list.

The best journalism blog posts during of 2008 according to Christopher Wink.

The 2008/2009 winners of the ‘Top 10 blogs for writers‘.

Top blogs according to viewer stats by top blog aggregation sites:
Bloglines –  http://www.bloglines.com/topblogs
Technorati –http://technorati.com/pop/blogs/
Blogs On Top – BOT – http://www.blogsontop.com/
WordPress – http://botd.wordpress.com/
Top 100 Bloggers – http://www.top100bloggers.com/
Wikio – http://www.wikio.com/blogs/top
Fimoculous – 30 Most Notable Blogs of 2008
http://www.fimoculous.com/archive/post-5554.cfm

Guardian – And the most powerful blogs accoring to the Guardian – http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/09/blogs

Blogging 101.5

Loved your blog!
I haven’t read your blog.
Blogs are electronic black holes.

Successful blogging is the result of intention.

Do you write for yourself, not caring if anyone reads your blog?
Answer no.
Do you blog when you feel like it, about whatever?
Answer no.
When you look at the readership logs, do you cry?
Answer no.
When you read the one comment, do you sigh?
Answer no.

Do you have a best time to blog, periodically?
Answer yes.
Do you stick to that schedule?
Answer yes.
Do you keep on theme?
Answer yes.
Do you think about your blog and look forward to your blog writing?
Answer yes.
Do you spread the word about your blogging to all friends, family and associates?
Answer yes.

That was easy!

Intention and Shame

On Sunday nights I read all the blogs on the Puma Press Blog site, write my blog,  and make changes to the highlights on the main web page.

This Sunday night I find only eight of 17 blogs have new posts.

I was speaking with a friend on the phone today about my attempts to teach children chess and how to sit quietly and think during lectures and while playing. It is like herding ants. I suggested to him that this week I would try to shame them to come to attention, stop interrupting me and each other.

He reminded me that in order to feel shame the children will have to feel guilt.

Well now.

In order to feel guilt the children will have to to have a conscience with a frame of reference that places value on sitting quietly and thinking.

After two years of coaching elementary chess clubs in after-school programs to groups of 10 to 25 children I am at a point of rethinking the entire job.

I have been trying to teach them to stop talking, stop moving, and start thinking – even for a fraction of a minute. Only five out of 100 students can sit quietly for up to one minute and think.

What does all this have to do with journalism and blogging?

Well, as editor of the Puma Press Blogs, I have attempted to motivate 17 bloggers to add to their blogs at least once each week. The journalism department also has been asking for everyone to add to their blog at least once per week.  I have suggested that everyone read all the blogs, leave some comments, and broadcast the blog URL to their email correspondence list.

So, is there a common thread between motivating children who do not think and bloggers that do not blog?

Without intention blogs do not get written. Without intention children are controlled by the habits of their little bodies.

Perhaps a key is in the future.

When chess is played well, players are visualizing the future more clearly. Players that make better choices see their intentions realized. One of the joys of playing chess well is looking in to a larger future.

When blogging regularly, periodically, a writer can manipulate time and enjoy projecting the present into the future, and bringing possibilities of the future back into the present.

Reticent bloggers and wiggly children need a thump from the future.

Society of Professional Journalists – Apr. 3-4

The Society of Professional Journalists Region 11 Conference, takes place April 3 and 4, 2009,  at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, ASU, Phoenix.  http://www.spjchapters.org/arizona

This conference for student and professional journalists serves various purposes:

• Regional business meeting for SPJ Region 11 delegates
• Multi-media boot camp
• Learning sessions for student
• Keynote presentation
• Discussions and panels to delve into the details of a fast changing profession
• Award ceremonies
• Social activities

Friday – April 3

• MIDDAY – Multimedia boot camp
• AFTERNOON – Resume critiques for students
• LATE AFTERNOON – Regional chapter meeting
• EVENING – Reception at Clarendon Hotel

Saturday – April 4

• MORNING – Opening keynote session:  “The Future, What is it?”
  Dan Gillmor, Andrew Donohue, Catherine Rouke, Chris Coppola
• MID MORNING – Breakout sessions covering most aspects of journalism
• LUNCH – Arizona FOI Awards
• AFTERNOON – Breakout sessions all afternoon
• LATE AFTERNOON – Mark of Excellent Awards reception
• EVENING – Saturday night party at Henry’s

Student registration cost at door is $75. The cost of lower with preregistration. Various events require additional payment. See web site for details. http://www.spjchapters.org/arizona

Free Flow of Information Act

UPDATE March 8, 2009 –  H.R. 985 passes House.
See details: http://www.govtrack.us/congressbill.xpd?bill=h110-985

Dave Aeikens, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, reported in an email to SPJ members that the Free Flow of Information Act, more commonly known as the Federal Shield Law was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representative as H.R. 985.

This law protects journalists from prosecution who refuse to reveal their confidential sources, says Aeiken.

SPJ is encouraging all journalists to contact their congressional representative and voice your support for passage of this bill.

Sunday on the keys

Taking a look around the technical corner reminds us of the immensity and complexity of the world we humans have built.

Note: This issue of this blog is not a paid commercial. I receive no compensation from providing this information.

Here is a good view behind the BBC web site.

One trend of the information world is an attempt hang a camera on everyone. Here is a vest that can turn any person into a walking video collector.  “Video Vest”

Another vest is now required (as of Nov. 24, 2008) for all reporters, camera operators and associated personnel that are working within a  federal highway right-of-way. The Press Safety Vest. States will be adopting this safety standard.  Add it to your travel bag, now. The vest can be ordered through most journalism organizations.

You will not want to keep the Puma Press Blog site close to your vest. Spread the links, baby.