Storify and Rebelmouse as curation tools in journalism

1. Storify and Rebelmouse as curation
tools in journalism
Ivan Lajara
Oct. 8, 2013

2. What are they
Both Storify and Rebelmouse are best described
as curation tools, which can serve greatly in the
pursuit of journalism. But it should be noted
that they are much more.
As curation tools, they can be used to display
curated content in either a static or feed-like
fashion.
Both are free, but have pro versions with extra
features.

3. What stories benefit
• Breaking news;
• Storms, floods,
emergencies;
• Large gatherings:
Festivals, fairs,
graduations, sports,
parades
• Long-term events;

4. Storify
• Storify allows you to pull in content from Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Youtube,
Flickr, Disqus, Tumblr, RSS feeds, Websites (and
Tout!) from around the web.
• The free version is static.
• There are three displays: classic, slideshow and
grid, the last two work well for images or videos.
• You can build and write a narrative to add context
(you can even write a full story around curated
content).

6. You can use hashtags and location in search!

7. Chances are, if people are talking about something in
social media, there is a chance there will also be photos

8. Rebelmouse
• Rebelmouse allows you to pull in 25 feeds from Twitter, your
Facebook profile or pages you manage, Instagram, Google +,
Youtube, Flickr, Tumblr, RSS feeds from around the web.
• The free version constantly updates as much as you tell it to
do, but you can ‘stick’ posts to chosen positions.
• All tweets without media (photo or video) go into your drafts.
• You can also build and write a narrative to add context; single
posts with multiple photos.
• There are five different design choices with several more
touches.

9. Rebelmouse channels
With Twitter, you can filter by @handle,
#hashtag or even a domain name and with
Instagram, you can filter by user or hashtag. But
you can add RSS feeds, other social media
content or even write your own from within the
console, which allows you to add context to a
post.

10. Rebelmouse’s
feed, look and feel
can be customized
to your liking.
Bonus: It features
responsive design

11. PRO-TIPS!
• Use Storify AS the search tool, that way you’ll
save time.
• You can also mass-post in Storify from your
own feeds, so you could have a specific event
hashtag and feed it all at once.
• Rebelmouse can be left alone, but it should be
groomed and filters should be included.
• EMBED! Use the back end of your site to
create a page.

12. USE THE BOOKMARKTLETS!
• http://storify.com/tools
• http://blog.rebelmouse.com/using_stick_this-
159492.html

13. Resources
Storify:
• Updated guide for journalists:
http://storify.com/kellyfincham/the-updated-
guide-to-storify-for-journalists
• Best practices:
http://storify.com/ivanlajara/storify-best-
practices

14. Resources
Rebelmouse
• How Tos:
https://www.rebelmouse.com/rebelmouse/H
ow_Tos/
• Getting started:
https://www.rebelmouse.com/starthere/

15. Further reading
Storify and Rebelmouse in journalism:
http://storify.com/ivanlajara/dfm-chat-on-
storify-and-rebelmouse

16. Contact me
• http://twitter.com/ivanlajara
• http://on.fb.me/ivanlajara
• http://about.me/ivanlajara
• ilajara@21st-centurymedia.com
• http://storify.com/ivanlajara
• https://www.rebelmouse.com/ivanlajara/