How the FT uses social media and five other must-reads

The Digital half dozen.

1. Global Social Channels Drive FT Consumption (FT)

The rather plodding title of this infographic disguises some interesting insights: traffic driven from social media is up 20 per cent in the last six months; the FT's reach via Twitter, Google+ and the rest is now 3.9 million; and 40 per cent of readers say they read more FT as a result of its social presence. Nothing on converting more of those 3.9 million into paying punters, however.

2. How do we save journalism? (Charlie Beckett)

Much has been written since the Guardian's David Leigh proposed a broadband tax on Monday — much of it hostile but much of it considered. Among the questions the plan fails to answer:

Yes, the loss-making Guardian will make a case that it provides ‘public service’ journalism, but why fund them and not the Murdoch-owned and profitable Sun newspaper? Why not give the money to a hyperlocal website in Stoke or the hugely partisan and rude political blogger Guido Fawkes.

3. Newsprint joins the internet of things (PaidContent)

"For the first time — in a scalable, manufacturable way — we're going to be able to connect the internet to paper." Oh, yes.

4. Eight facts on mobile for publishers (Journalism.co.uk)

Including: 15 per cent of UK adults say they have a tablet computer; half have smartphones. Mobile device sales based on Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms will reach one billion by the end of the year.

5. How Journalists Are Using Pinterest (ReadWriteWeb)

"For a publisher, Pinterest's chief advantages are twofold. First, it engages readers in a new context, one that is uniquely visual. It also turns out to have big potential in the traffic-driving department." Also in the series…

6. How Journalists Are Using Instagram (ReadWriteWeb)

"We haven't totally figured out a strategy, to be honest," says NPR. Still, National Public Radio has managed to attract 213,000 followers.