Just by scrolling through St. Louis Public Radio’s Twitter and Instagram profiles, it was easy to tell they know how to effectively use social media. The material posted was engaging and offered opportunity for followers to be involved. St. Louis Public Radio has a fairly large following, especially on Twitter. With upwards of thirty-eight thousand followers, that is the first indicator that they are doing something right.
I noticed that many of the Instagram posts were pictures that came directly from the general public. This is a very useful method in communicating with an audience because it allows people to see the news organization as more than just a business. There is a sense of closeness and familiarity that does not come from news organizations who use social media simply to post links to new stories.
There was a similar personable feel when it came to St. Louis Public Radio’s Twitter account. They really engage with their followers by quoting tweets, retweeting, and replying along with posting pictures and updates about new stories. It is important for news organizations to communicate with their online audience because Twitter in particular is a great social media platform for discussions on current events. By being involved with their audience, St. Louis Public Radio can also be involved in the conversation and foster an environment for open discussion.
I was impressed by their use of social media overall. I thought it was nice to see a contrast between their social media accounts and their website. The website is focused mainly around the stories but still offers ways to connect online. By having this professional website but interacting with the audience on a personal level on social media, St. Louis Public Radio effectively represents the interests of their followers and provides a more conversation-based online environment.