User-generated content - also known as eyewitness media - can be critical for breaking news, as well as other types of journalism and storytelling.
But your social media feed is not a buffet of videos and images that you should help yourself to and use however you see fit. There are rules to use this content ethically and responsibly, according to David Clinch, global strategic partnerships and training coordinator, Storyful.
His ten commandments of using eyewitness media published by First Draft News provide useful guidelines for using content from social media and online. Thou shalt not be fooled, he writes.
"UGC that is too good to be true probably is. Don’t get sucked in by a story or piece of video you find online without first verifying it. You won’t just look like a fool — over time you will harm your news brand and your own reputation."
Learn how quality journalism can thrive in a fake news-era at Newsrewired.com on 27 November at Reuters, London. Head to newsrewired.com for the full agenda and tickets
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