News organisations such as Vox, Bloomberg and The Washington Post have been experimenting with Facebook groups to source stories, build communities around a certain beat or to enable readers to ask questions and interact more closely with journalists.
However Facebook groups don't necessarily suit every topic or organisation, so if you are considering launching one, check out this Medium post from technology and media journalist Simon Owens, which highlights some of the factors that make this type of communities successful.
He advises creating a group that goes beyond mimicking the approach of your outlet's Facebook page and builds on your reporting strengths; ensuring reporters are active in the conversations people are having in the group; and providing value to members by sharing not just your own content but also stories from other news outlets.
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