FACEBOOK WANTS TO MAKE JOURNALISM GREAT AGAIN

Facebook has a plan to help journalism thrive

On Wednesday Facebook announced "THE FACEBOOK JOURNALISM PROJECT," a new initiative that will include more collaboration with media outlets, new tools and training for journalists, as well as education efforts for the general public.
 Facebook confirmed previous reports that it is bringing ads breaks to its videos, a potentially lucrative move for publishers and for Facebook.
"We know that our community values sharing and discussing ideas and news, and as a part of our service, we care a great deal about making sure that a healthy news ecosystem and journalism can thrive," wrote Fidji Simo, a director of product at Facebook, in a blog post announcing the program. "That’s why today we’re announcing a new program to establish stronger ties between Facebook and the news industry."

The new initiative comes after Facebook was widely critiqued for its role in disseminating misleading news (fake news) and propaganda around the U.S election. Facebook has also been under fire from those in the media industry for its role in controlling access to readers without providing much in the way of monetization.
Facebook has pushed back against those critics while also beginning to introduce new ways for its users to report hoaxes.
The initiative announcement is divided into three parts: collaboration, tools/education for journalists and tools/education for the public.
"Publishers simply choose the articles and a cover image or video to package together in a set of Instant Articles," wrote Facebook product manager Josh Roberts in a blog post about the new magazine-like format.
In addition to the new Instant Articles format, Simo said that Facebook also wants to help with improving the prospects of local news. Local media outlets have been particularly hard hit in recent years as the economics of media have changed.
As for tools and education for journalists, Facebook will be introducing a "certificate curriculum" in partnership with the Poynter Institute for Media Studies for journalists that complete its courses on how to best use Facebook.
Facebook will also be making CrowdTangle, the Facebook audience tracking startup that it recently bought, free for publishing partners.
 Facebook will be working with outside organizations "on how to better understand and to promote news literacy both on and off our platform to help people in our community have the information they need to make decisions about which sources to trust."
, Facebook said it is working with Arizona State University to figure out how to support this goal, as well as working with the News Literacy Project to make public service ads on the issue.
 Facebook as well  said it will continue efforts to "reduce the spread of news hoaxes.

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USALAMA APP REVIEW

Its agreeable that worst things tend to happen to us when we are alone: Be it health emergencies,  crimes etc. .All these happen to us unexpectedly.

Truth is, we don't always get  a chance to scream, or call out for help .Yet we want to feel secure wherever we walk with friends,loved ones,  family and more so when  alone.


Usalama app which debuted last year November  (2016) offer a solution for you: armed robbery , burglary, mugging, car jacking , gender violence and medical emergency .

Lets all agree that the ordinary citizen is not in a position to hire a personal body guard, or purchase  a licensed pistol for his security etc, but the good news is: The Usalama App.

So I set foot on a path to discover how this app works.honestly , I've seen apps been advertised on billboards,and Been a tech-lover , I hurriedly get to google play store , download it and a few hours later, end up deleting it after realizing that it was all a fuss.



So after Jamlick Kyalo, a friend of mine and Usalama App marketing Partner under Dylan LTD told me about the app,  I decided to download it, as tell as test it .


believe me you, the app is great, here are reasons why Usalama app ticks!!

1: its quite easy to download on the google play store
enter the word "USALAMA" on the search box on Google Play Store.







 2:Only 7.66MBs and I was  set to security in my pocket.Is that too much to ask for for your security?


3: Its quite easy to use since it gives me  a" Pre-Use" manual brief and slowly guides one about what the app is all about

More Over, I realized that Usalama has multiple features which are really amazing

1. CRIME DISTRESS CALL - Allows victims to communicate quickly with their next of kin.

the distress logs were empty , i hadnt sent any distress alert.



2. TIMER - Set automated alerts if you are going to a risky location.

first I set location on,phone uses GPS to get your location

3. NEWS ALERTS- Location based to allow you to share and receive news on crimes and criminal activity



4. USALAMA AROUND - Allows for Usalama users to view and connect with nearby users within a 200 M radius


5. WALK WITH ME - Allows multiple Usalama users to keep tabs on each others position as they move. ( i used jamlick's email to this feature)




after following all those procedures, i chose three emergency numbers . I sent a distress to Jamlick (this was a trial to test functionality of the app) and.... he got my distress : below is the screenshot



Usalama also has two user options:
i) As an Individual: This allows you to use the application independently from any organized estate or association. You will enjoy all the above listed services.
ii) As an estate: This allows you to use the Usalama Mtaani platform which adds an extra estate based property to Usalama

REVIEW IN BRIEF 

The app allows its users to enter three contacts of family and friends who they would contact in case of an emergency. It has a simple interface that consists of 4 customizable crime scenarios which are to be selected by an individual when they are in distress.

Upon selection of one scenario, the application activates an internet connection and location service (GPS), which it uses to scan and get the location of the victim before composing a message with the victim’s location, the rescuers location, the nearest three police stations from the victim, and the respective paths from the victim.  If the contacts receiving the alert also have the app installed on their devices, distress calls are sent as notifications to them allowing them to open within the app to display the information.


As technology improves, our security should as well improve.


so congrats  to the apps developers,
I'd give it 4/5 -Star Rating 

So, if you want your security,your family's happiness, I wouldn't recommend a better app than the Usalama app.("SECURITY STARTS WITH YOU - UHURU KENYATTA )

So tell a friend to tell a friend  about USALAMA APP, you could save a life !!!

click here to download the app.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Lets catch up on all social media platforms.Dont forget to subscribe.Cheers!

                                   FACEBOOK : Presenter Ali

                                   TWITTER:   @PresenterAli

                                   INSTAGRAM:@PresenterAli

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Why You Should Start Replying To Auto DM’s on Twitter

Auto DM’s are auto direct messages on Twitter .if you are a frequent Twitter user then you probably know what I'm talking about.For instance , you follow someone and you get this on your Direct Message   Hello thank you for following @PresenterAli.

(dm sent via http://unfollowspy.com )

 

If you get them , you probably noticed that you get a lot of these,from people you recently followed.

 clearly most of these DM’s are automated and are  sent to all new followers. And once we realise that message is not personal, we tend to ignore it, right? But there are few reasons why you shouldn’t.
You can make these DM’s work for your own advantage.

1. great way to outreach people

Direct Messages are a channel where you can have private conversations. This is a great way to outreach people, especially the ones you don’t know yet. But you can send DM’s only to people who already follows you. This means that people you just followed got access to your DM inbox and can send manual or auto message your way. And while they do not follow you back – their inbox is out of reach.

NOTE

But there is one trick. Once you get a Direct Message – you can send a reply even if that person doesn’t follow you.therefore, auto DMs givve you access to people even those who dont follow you back.

2. Connect with people

Engagement  is  a  key tool that aids in Effective Twitter marketing. it only makes sense if you follow people that are interesting for you or your brand. That means all DM’s you get are from people you want to connect with, right? So please do not leave them hanging.

If you received auto DM that says something like “Thanks for following me” – treat it like a real conversation in a networking event.

You should always reply. Otherwise, you might be leaving a lot of opportunities uncovered.

despite the fact that sometimes you wont get a reply from people who send auto DM’s. You can craft a short reply that does not take you a lot of time to send. But personal messages always work better. You will see a return of investment quite fast.


3. Get more followers

People can send you Direct Messages without following you back. That means that quite frequently you will receive a message from someone who is not your follower yet. This is a great opportunity to turn people into followers. If you connect with them through private conversation – there is a high probability that they will be confident enough to follow you back.

If you already created reciprocity by doing something they asked for – you can invite people to follow back. Tell that you want to stay connected and engage with each other tweets. It really works. And sometimes even without asking.

4. Have more engaged followers

Followers that you get after having a private conversation are more engaged with content you share. You already started a relationship so people feel more connected to you and your ideas. If you invest time in engaging with their tweets as well – you will see great results.After all, you want followers that listen to what you have to say. So this is a great way to gain these listening followers. Once again – use this opportunity.

5. Avoid gate-keeper

last but definitely no the least, Direct Messages are a channel where you can have private conversations. This is a great way to outreach people, especially the ones you don’t know yet. But you can send DM’s only to people who already follows you. This means that people you just followed got access to your DM inbox and can send manual or auto message your way. And while they do not follow you back – their inbox is out of reach.

This means that auto DM’s give an access to your prospects Twitter inbox without any extra effort! You shouldn’t ignore this opportunity. 

After realising that their automatic system opens the door for you – you start to look forward to all incoming DM’s.

Thanks for checking out my blog , much appreciated 

connect with me on all social media platforms

Facebook: Presenter Ali (@presenterali1)

Twitter: @PresenterAli

Instagram: @PresenterAli

see you around, feel free to share this article with your friends.

thans to external source: succesfullblogging.com

.

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Set goals crush them: Dont make these mistakes

Hello,

Let me tell you the story about how, at a particularly low point in my life, I decided to set a big "goal" to try to turn things around...

And how, four years later, I still hadn't hit it :-(

I finally realized (by a weird coincidence) that I had made the 3 Fatal Mistakes that will always destroy your chances of hitting any new goal you set.

So I was focused for FOUR YEARS on a goal that could never actually come true.

Trying every new solution that came along, in hopes it would get me there "sometime."

Staying up till midnight and later, working on projects that I "thought" would get me closer to my goal.

Sacrificing precious time with family and friends, thinking "it will all be worth it someday..."

Pouring time and money I didn't have down the drain in the name of hitting my goal...thinking, "I'm so close this time."

Losing the respect and support of those around me (who thought I was crazy).

Nothing worked.

I was just getting discouraged.

I was getting exhausted.

And I was going deeper in debt.

Finally, I had to admit that, instead of hitting my big goal of "Becoming a Millionaire" ...

I was about to lose everything

I couldn't even afford rent, not to mention being any closer to my "goal."

I was feeling pretty crushed...

I was feeling kind of stupid...

I was even feeling scared.

All my dreams were coming to a dead end.

I don't want this kind of thing to happen to you. Ever.

So -

Here are the 3 fatal mistakes to avoid when setting a goal (especially for the New Year)...

Mistake #1: Setting an unclear, vague, non-measurable goal.

Most people set goals that are so vague, there is no way to even know if they hit them.

For example, "I want to lose weight."

Or, "I want to make more money."

Or, "I want more time."

How much weight? By doing what?

How much more money, by when?

How much more time, when, so you can do what?

The problem is, the human brain simply can't work on your goals without knowing these details.

This is the mistake I made when I set my goals"

And it almost cost me my dream.

Mistake #2: Setting too many small, unrelated goals.

This is something that we learn to do, by following (bad) examples.

"What goals do you have for the New Year?"

"Well, let's see...I want to lose weight...have more time...make more money...and take a trip to Seychelles."

Because there are so many goals, and each one has many different things you need to do to reach each one, your brain quickly short-circuits.

"Help!" it screams. "I can't do all this! I don't even know how to do one of these yet, not to mention four!"

Panic sets in...and then, everything stalls. Goodbye goals.

However, if you set one BIG goal, and focus on hitting it, using everything you've got...

You're MUCH more likely to actually get there.

And then, hey, you can set a new goal!

Mistake #3: Using your conscious brain to set your goals.

Now, this one may seem strange, as of course you have to use your conscious brain to set your goal, right?

Well yes, you do.

But most people use ONLY their conscious mind to set (and then try to hit) their goals.

Why is this a mistake?

Picture this:

Your conscious brain is like that 10% of the iceberg that you see above the water...

While your subconscious brain is the 90% that is hidden there UNDER the surface.

So whatever you're trying to do with your conscious mind -

If your subconscious isn't on board, it will be actually working against you.

And that's 90% against 10%.

So guess who's going to win. :-(

That's right...your subconscious brain will win, and you will stay exactly where you are now.

When I set my first big goal, I made mistake number one and three in spades!

I set a vague, non-measurable goal, and THEN I went about trying to hit it without getting my subconscious brain onboard.

And what happened?

FOUR YEARS LATER...

Deeper in debt.

Working 60-80 hours per week.

Damaging my relationship with family and friends.

Losing everything.

Neglecting my health (and sanity).

And getting more negative results

Those are the mistakes I made...

P.S. Hit comment and let me know if you've ever made (or think you're making) either or both of the two mistakes above.

Or if you've set New Year's goals in the past that didn't come true, and wondered "what went wrong"...like I did.

I'd love to hear your experience with goal-setting in the past...

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Facebook ranks as the top tech company to work for in 2017

Facebook ranked as the best tech company to work for in 2017 as well as  coming in second among world companies overall, according to a new report from Glassdoor. The ninth annual list is based on employee reviews posted on the job site from Nov. 2, 2015 to Oct. 30, 2016.

In 2011 and 2013 Facebook took the number one spot overall,  and was number five last year. This year, management consultancy Bain and Company returned to the top spot.The tech industry overall had another good year, since it accounted for 20 of the top 50 companies in the United States. Apple and Google, along with Bain, are the only employers to make the list for all nine consecutive years.

Glassdoor's Allison Berry :

 “The tech industry "really pioneered this whole idea of providing really fantastic benefits and offering very competitive compensation. It’s been interesting to see other companies that are outside of the space following through,"

Berry, looking at the Glassdoor reviews, pointed to employee frustrations with management and work hours. "As companies try to scale, you see less transparency. Employees are putting in longer hours and you might see less work-life balance, and employees aren’t as confident as career procession," Berry said."We are constantly working to improve and expand in these areas through initiatives that foster professional development, support health and well-being, and we are expanding other benefits such as matching 401(k) contributions in 2017," Brittany Cornejo, a public relations specialist with Airbnb  says.

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