Bluesky for journalists and newsletter writers
A verified handle, a story as a thread, a newsletter link you can measure, and replies in one place. And a tool that never posts a word you did not write.
Why journalists are on Bluesky
Because the readers, the editors and the sources went, and because a newsroom's handle here can be its own domain, which settles the question of who is who. The feed is in order and there is no ranking to push against; a story posted at a measured hour reaches the people who follow you. Newsletter writers do well for the same reason: a link in a post is shown, not buried.
Setting up
- Your handle on the publication's domain, or your own: @yourname.example.co.uk is a verified handle in itself, and it is a byline. A newsroom can give its staff handles under its domain.
- A bio that names the beat and the outlet, and where the newsletter lives.
- A pinned post with the newsletter's link and the sign-up line.
- The feeds for your beat, and the starter packs of reporters on it. Ask into them, and make one for your desk. The starter packs guide covers how.
What to post
The story, as a thread. The first post is the finding in one line, because a thread is found by its first post; then the evidence, one point per post; then the link. Write it as one long post and the Planner splits it where you put a line of three dashes, with any tags moved to the first post. A newsletter issue is the same shape: the one thing this issue says, two supporting posts, the link. Quotes from the piece as their own posts, so the person quoted can repost. A picture with alt text that says what it shows; a chart with the numbers written into the alt text so a screen reader gets them.
Some posts that hold up: "I asked the council for the figures. Here is what they sent, and what they left out"; the correction, posted plainly; the question you are reporting on next, with a way to reach you; the piece from two years ago that today's news makes relevant.
Sensitive images
A photograph from a scene, a graphic image from a war, a picture a reader should choose to see rather than be shown: put a content label on it. Bluesky's composer offers a graphic media label among others, and the reader's own settings decide whether the image is shown, blurred or hidden. The Planner shows the label on the post before it goes out, and an account can be set to label every post with an image. The labels guide explains each label.
When to post
Not on the minute the piece publishes, unless it is breaking. Each of your posts' first day is counted against the hour it went out, on your own clock, so the hour your readers are around is measured. Once you know it, the newsletter post goes into the queue and takes that hour each week. The best time to post guide explains the measurement.
Links you can measure
A link in a scheduled post goes out as a tracked short link, so you can see which post sent readers to the newsletter, per post, not just per week. The link page on updrift.link holds the newsletter, the outlet and the book, with clicks counted per link, and it is free for every account.
Replies and mentions
A reporter's mentions are tips, corrections and abuse, in no particular order. The Inbox holds replies, mentions, quotes and, when you allow it, direct messages, oldest unanswered first, and you answer in place. A reply from someone whose profile says they may be under 18 is shown with no reply button. A thread you would rather not see again can be hidden from the Inbox.
What Updrift never does
It never posts anything you did not write and schedule. It never replies for you and never sends a message. On Free it reads your figures and counts your replies, and asks Bluesky for no permission to do anything else; posting is a separate permission you grant later and can revoke in Bluesky's settings at any time. Paid plans can also switch on Assist, which likes, reposts and follows in your topics at a paced, capped rate inside the hours you choose. It is off until you turn it on. The how Updrift behaves page says all of this in writing.
Tracking free
For one account on the Free plan: followers by the hour, each post's first day, which post brought readers and who reposted it, the top line of What works, and the link page. The Inbox shows how many replies are waiting on Free; answering them in place, the measured hours and the Planner are the paid part. Writers and authors have a page of their own.
What a paid plan adds
- Duo, £7 a month: the Planner for two accounts (you and the newsletter), story threads split properly, tracked links per post, and the Inbox answered in place.
- Studio, £12 a month: five accounts for a desk, five seats where a reporter drafts and an editor approves, and a week loaded from a CSV.
- Every paid plan is 7 days free with a card; Duo is £7 a month for two accounts and the Planner, Studio £12 for five and a team. All the plans.
Try the Planner free for 7 days.
A card to start, charged on day 8 unless you cancel, from £4 a month. Your stats are free either way.