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Rumors about a massive fish pulled out of a local lake turned into a cool story, with the angler identified using Facebook.
WHAT THEY DID: Kent Bush, publisher for the Augusta Daily Gazette, heard a rumor at a meeting about a huge fish caught in a local lake being drained for a dam/spillway project. Bush put a callout on Facebook, asking the paper’s more than 3,000 fans if anyone knew who the angler was. In 38 minutes, someone responded with a name. They got a photo and permission to use the angler’s name – which made for a great talker on Facebook and a nice print piece.
TAKEAWAY: Using Facebook to source talkers like “the big catch” is a great way to expand the eyes and ears of a newsroom. Callouts like this work well for fun stories, because people want to share with their communities. If you hear something about a coyote prowling around the suburbs, or a bald eagle nest in a backyard – Facebook can be the perfect tool for nailing down the who and where.
