KFDM-TV in Beaumont has close to 140,000 page likes on Facebook and that makes up a sizeable instant audience for the station’s live streaming efforts. KFDM anchor Tiffany Murphy found out herself just how much reach Facebook Live can have when she was sent to cover a fire at the local Humane Society.
“I only have 2,700 followers, however, the live video was shared 166 times and seen 42,000+ times with a lot of engagement,” said Murphy.
In fact, that story generated 59 comments with lots of interaction between Murphy and her audience.
“After reporters get the basics down, I think it’s important to show viewers that you are a real person and interact with them,” she said.
One of the reasons Murphy is so effective with live streaming (in addition to the time she’s spent in the field as a reporter) is that she is also an old hand at Periscope. She routinely used the app to multitask when she was reporting solo in the field.
“Let’s say you’re at a news conference; you can set up your iPhone on a tripod and the producers will watch, and they’ll know immediately what you know. You won’t have to stop down to communicate with them,” Murphy said.
For anyone going live, whether it’s with a truck or through social media, Murphy has some good advice:
- Don’t try to memorize a script, use bullet points to guide the flow of the information you’re delivering and practice before you go live.
- Make a game plan for the live shot. Will you be moving around, showing the audience something or doing something on camera? Be sure you think it through.
- Whatever you do, be honest.
“It’s OK to say you don’t know something and to say, ‘Here’s what we’re going to find out.”
