Complementing our reporting with TikTok
When I began the Daily Herald application process for the position of climate change reporter, I knew as soon as I saw the job description I wanted to try TikTok.
I've been using the social media app for years, and while I understand the criticism the platform tends to garner, I've also observed an undeniable sense of community and education fostered there.
The platform is home to nearly every niche topic, from personal finance tips to relocating bee colonies to fantasy book reviews. Among the millions of videos uploaded each day, local news, environmental issues and climate change have a place as well.
I've long felt concerned about how so many of my friends and peers don't seem to get their news from local or trusted sources, but rather rely on Twitter or Instagram instead.
Whereas I used to criticize those who didn't read or listen to traditional news outlets, I've realized it's the journalist's job to meet people where they are, and to make information as accessible and engaging as possible given the tools we have. In today's age, social media is clearly one of those tools.
With this in mind, and knowing how relevant climate change is to the primary age group that uses TikTok — 80% of the app's users are between the ages of 16 and 34 — I recently began uploading videos to the Daily Herald account, @dailyheraldnews.
After filming an introduction of who I am and what I do, my first TikTok was a compilation of videos I took during my time at the Chicago Automobile Trade Association's first all-electric vehicle auto show, test driving cars and listening to expert presentations about the state of electric vehicles in the U.S. today.
My next video, posted this past weekend, was a tour of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's new exhibit for kids 8 and younger to explore Illinois' six Great Lakes habitats, including interactive displays representing natural prairies, wetlands and dunes.
Though I'd like to create visually interesting videos every week, because I work from home and I'm not out in the field every day, that won't always be possible. In those cases, I hope to simply chat with potential viewers about whatever interesting and important news I've written about that week.
Each day, I learn more about how climate change affects people like you and me, and how our communities, our cities and our state are responding. I've had a wonderful time sharing what I've learned with you all so far, and I'm excited to continue doing so with one more tool under my belt.
• Jenny Whidden is a Report For America corps member covering climate change and the environment for the Daily Herald. To help support her work, click here to make a tax-deductible donation.