Smart journalists tweet while newspapers wrap fish
It’s no secret that I’m into Twitter. It’s also no secret that I strive to think unconventionally about journalism, publishing, and new media. So I had to smile about this post from the editor in chief of Reuters on scooping “himself” (Reuters the wire service) on Twitter:
While it is vital to read the five as a whole, I take the fifth (”That no effort shall be spared to expand, develop and adapt the news and other services and products of Thomson Reuters so as to maintain its leading position in the international news and information business”) as an imperative for continual innovation and experimentation.
I have no idea what journalism will look like in five years except that it will be different than it is now. That’s a great thing, I believe.
I have little patience for those who cling to sentimental (and frankly inaccurate) memories of the good old halcyon days of journalism that were somehow purer and better than a world where tweets and blogs compete with news wires and newspapers.
Bring it on, I say!
Journalism is one of the great self-declared professions and crafts. I am a journalist because I said I was one more than two decades ago and have spent the years since working on my abilities. I am not one because I am somehow anointed with a certificate or an exam result.
This post came out at the same time as Gillian Shaw of the Vancouver Sun has published a list of all the Twitter IDs of people at the paper. What do these have in common? These are news outlets–saying “newspapers” is far too limiting–that get it.
They’ve seen the handwriting on the wall, and they see that it’s adapt or become fish wrappers. The Vancouver Sun and Reuters aren’t the only news folks on Twitter of course. Almost all of our local news outlets are on Twitter and interacting with the community at large. What do we get? Headlines pushed to us. What do they get? News sources. Lots of news sources.
Gillian put out a request this week about the new media fund in the new budget. She needed social media/new media folks to interview. I don’t know how many she got in the end, but she got her story and some dandy quotes (If I may say so myself).
Now, what about news organizations and outlets that a baulking at Twitter and blogs tainting journalism? I think they should look back in history a bit and see where their roots really come from. Bunch of rabble-rousing folks who felt that there was a story to be told and would print it out for anyone who would care to read. Yeah I’m sure Ben Franklin’s paper was decried at first. Heck I think all newspapers were decried by the establishment at first.
Times have changed. Information is exchanged electronically and faster than the events themselves (which does lead to inaccurate information at times), journalism and journalists have to change as well.
Or be left behind.
I know in 'trad media' we can be guilty of simply feeding out headlines but for me the value of Twitter – both personally and in my work – is the conversation. I learn a lot and hope that my contributions go beyond simply sharing the stories I am working on. Probably the most important task for us on Twitter is to listen. Thanks for the comments, they are interesting ones to consider in our ongoing newsroom discussion on the issue.
Gillian I'm glad you liked it. Getting out into the stream is key to this whole new paradigm I think. Wonder when the first article entirely of tweets will be published.
I'm still waiting for the first big professional indiscretion by a journalist or politician on Twitter. I'm keeping an eye on Boris Johnson, since he's infamous for gaffes and qualifies as both!
I don't think tweeting the funeral of that toddler counts as an indiscretion; it was just tasteless journalism. Indiscretion would be having too much wine and getting into a flamewar or something.
Oh yes, that will be something to watch for. Course it's just like real life then isn't it?
Lorraine's wish is the Congressman's command – officially, an indiscretion by a top-ranked politician … on Twitter. Sweet.
Wow. Don't know my own strength!