About

Beatblogging.org is an initiative of NewAssignment.Net. It looks at how journalists can use social networks and other Web tools to improve beat reporting, with an empahsis on “pushing the practice” and spotlighting innovation. NewAssignment.Net is a research project based at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and directed by professor Jay Rosen, who is on the faculty there and writes the press criticism blog, PressThink.

Beatblogging.org highlights innovative beat reporters who are on our nominees list. The best of the nominees make our weekly Leaderboard feature. What’s a beatblog? Here’s our definition.

We look at the latest tools and trends and how they can help reporters do a better job tracking their beat. We find real-world examples of social media helping journalists improve their beat reporting. Our podcast interviews feature journalists who are pushing the practice. We ask them what works and what doesn’t. We are constantly trying to determine what is the return on investment for putting time into social media.

Patrick Thornton is the editor and lead writer of BeatBlogging.Org. He also runs the popular journalism blog, The Journalism Iconoclast.

Write for us

Do you have good ideas about beatblogging, social media, link journalism or user interaction on the Web? Do want to tap into a large niche audience of people interested in social media and journalism? Are you a journalism student who wants to add more clips to your portfolio? Are you an experienced journalist looking to showcase your new media skills and knowledge?

Consider becoming a BeatBlogging.Org guest writer.

Click here to find out more about being a guest writer for BeatBlogging.Org.