The following is a longer version of the article that appeared in Journalism.co.uk last week, with some extra tools and quotes.
It’s almost impossible to sum up Twitter in one line. To some, it is a way of delivering content to mobiles as headline text alerts. To others, it’s a social networking tool for getting contacts and leads. Some use it as a research tool for developing stories; and still others as a project management tool to gather a number of contributors together – for example, drivers posting updates on traffic.
In other words, it is what you make it and the only way to figure it out is to start using it. The following is a guide to getting started on Twitter as a journalist, and some of the things that can be done with it.
Twitter for newsgathering
Contacts are central to a journalist’s work. Twitter makes it easier to find them. But whereas, for instance, Facebook requires someone to accept you as their ‘friend’ before you get updates; you can follow people on Twitter regardless. It’s where blogging meets social networking.
The more people you follow on Twitter, the more likely you are to come across a lead or a useful contact. News of the recent UK earthquake, for example, broke first on Twitter, while last year news of a fire in East London broke there too. And even as I type this, someone I know at St Pancras station has twittered that it is being evacuated. You might also use Twitterverse or PicoBuzz to spot important phrases (e.g. events).
Here’s a simple ticklist to fill your Twitter contacts book:
- Obviously you should begin by searching Twitter for people you know, or know of, in your field. The Labour Party, Lib Dems and Conservatives all have their own Twitter accounts, for example, as do some politicians. But beware of hoaxers. This isn’t really Chuck Norris, for example. Is it?
- Then, look at who they’re following (I find entering someone’s username on Gridjit is the best way of seeing someone’s contacts and what they’re saying, or you can use Quotably to follow their conversations).
- Then try Twits Like Me to find people with similar interests (based on what you’ve twittered)
- and Twubble (based on your friends) or Who Should I Follow? (which allows you to adjust according to whether you want people nearer your location or more or less popular)
- and Tweetscan for key words (e.g. “health”, “NHS”).
- Finally Twitterlocal will help you find twitterers in your local area.
- You can also find a list of significant Twitter users in various fields at the Twitter Pack Project. However, as this is a wiki there is a risk that people have added themselves. It’s also US-focused.
The Birmingham Post, and particularly reporter Jo Geary, are leading Twitter-users among regional newspapers. She sees it as a great way of building a relationship with your contacts and target audience.
“It’s not just popping in, getting something, and popping out, but building something more. And because of that it’s also become a support network of people who help me, and vice versa. It moves into the crowdsourcing thing – if you want to do something you can put out questions and get answers.”
It’s all part of the wider move of journalism to becoming a conversation with readers. Abbie Lundberg, for instance, wrote one article by soliciting tweets on the topic from her followers. Nico Luchsinger even conducted his interview with me via Twitter (which gave me the unique experience of being interviewed while shopping in Tesco.)
Managing your Twitter feeds
Once you’ve set up all those contacts, it’s useful to create some filters to help manage the incoming information. Gridjit, again, has a clearer interface for viewing tweets. Desktop applications like Twhirl will give you an audio alert; Snitter allows you to filter your tweets – for key words or tweets containing links for instance. You can also set up pages to organise tweets from ‘crowds’ of twitterers (for example, friends, colleagues, contacts) using Crowdstatus.com.
You can – and should – set up Twitter to send updates to your mobile phone (click on ‘add device’ or look in settings). It’s free, and is particularly useful for following what’s happening while you’re on the move. But pick your sources carefully – Twitter will only send 250 updates per week, and it’s easy to hit that.
The first thing you should do once you’ve set up Twitter to send text alerts is to text Twitter the word “track” followed by your username. This means Twitter will text you whenever anyone mentions your username on Twitter – very useful for picking up messages aimed at you. You can use the same trick to track mentions of key words in your area, such as a key employer or your own organisation (More tips on mobile commands can be found here). If you prefer email alerts, MobiFeedLive.com and Tweet Scan (not to be confused with Tweetscan) provide them.
You can also follow links that are getting passed about a lot on Twitter though Twitterbuzz and Twitt(url)y. While Twist is a pretty impressive equivalent of Google Trends (from comments).
Twitter for news publishing, distribution and creation
If you want an idea of what Twitter can do for news publishing check out BreakingNewsOn. Headline alerts of breaking news that people can receive on their mobiles are the most obvious application, and used by dozens of organisations including the BBC, the Guardian and CNN (This post has a list of news organisations using Twitter). It’s a good way of alerting people to your content, as well as inviting participation, as Emap’s David Cushman recently tweeted: “Comments on my blog are going mad. Nothing has changed except I now use twitter regularly.”
Many newspapers have separate Twitter accounts for different sections, such as business, traffic and sports. Sky even have one for news about Madeleine McCann.
Twitterfeed will save you typing updates by pushing RSS feeds from your newspaper to a Twitter account, but this means you have to write the article first and risk missing the scoop. Instead it’s better to ‘tweet’ (post to Twitter) before you write the article – ensuring you get to the top of Google quickly, as Birmingham Post editor Marc Reeves did with the arrest of Karren Brady:
“I’m only followed by 30 people or so … But these people are all … in the business of sharing information and knowledge. Consequently, a number of them followed my link to the story on the Post website, and started to talk about it on their own blogs and again through Twitter, with the effect that the Post site received an incredible number of hits as word spread.”
If you really want to track how many people are clicking on any of your links you can also use Tweetburner (or Twitt(url)y to see what they’re saying if they pass it on). Or you can use Intwition to see who’s linking to a particular domain.
Twitter is particularly useful for journalists reporting live via text message themselves. Sky reporter Julia Reid recently used it to post her “minute-by-minute” experiences at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Robert LaHue used it “to semi-liveblog a board meeting via texting” and it’s often used at conferences and events. You can also download applications that allow you to update Twitter from your mobile – this article compares 20 of them.
Going beyond 140 characters
And if you’re frustrated by the 140 character limit try some of these tools:
- Twitzer is a Firefox extension that allows you to write tweets over 140 characters. MessageDance does much the same via email, and also allows comments on tweets.
- twi8r translates text speak into ‘English’ and vice versa, allowing you to truncate your messages
- Twittermail.com and Tweetahead allow you to pre-schedule tweets to be posted (for when you are not at a computer); the latter also lets you send and receive tweets via email
- Tweetr is a Twitter reader that allows you to send files up to 10MB through Twitter.
- TwitPic allows you to send images from your phone and not only posts links straight to your Twitter account but allows people to post comments that are then posted on their own Twitter page (with a link to the photo). Mobypicture does something similar. TwitterSoap is a mashup of Mobypicture and Twitter.
- SnapTweet posts your latest Flickr picture to Twitter; Autopostr.com does much the same.
- Twiddeo allows you to do the same with video.
- Twixxer does both photo and video sharing
- And American and Canadian users can phone in their tweets using Jott.
- Or you can use the Firefox plugin Power Twitter, which does most of the above and much, much more.
But Twitter becomes really impressive when you tap into its social, conversational nature – or combine the RSS feeds from a number of twitterers. Shawn Smith used it to create the Michigan Twitter Network, which “follows more than 1,300 Michigan twitterers. We’ve gained about 200+ followers and use this account @mlive to send breaking news alerts and also poll users.” (I’ve created something similar for Birmingham twitterers). In Spain, ADN.es used it to follow voter reactions during a televised presidential candidate debate on TV.
My recent experiment with, of all things, a live book review on Twitter demonstrated that the boundary between publishing and conversation becomes blurred when you use the technology – confusing if you’re bothered about semantics, but encouraging if you’re interested in positive relationships between the journalist and reader.
At the end of the day, Twitter is just a platform. What I’ve outlined here is just the start, and there are plenty of experiments being done – the really interesting stuff starts when you try something completely new…
Feel free to follow me, by the way, at twitter.com/paulbradshaw
For more information see my Twitter-related links, or read my other blog posts about Twitter.
Amusing irony given the point of Twitter updates is to convey a message in one line!
TwitterMail.com also sends you all your replies via email which is a great way to keep in touch with your followers…
[...] Online Journalism Blog reports on how journalists can master Twitter, Contacts are central to a journalist’s work. Twitter makes it easier to find them. But whereas, [...]
We have a Twitter tool that is ideal for journalists, you may want to add it to your list. It’s similar to Google Trends, only it charts mentions of concepts on Twitter and allows you to see what people say about them. You can check it out at http://twist.flaptor.com
For example, if you’d like to see what people say about Hillary and Obama:
http://twist.flaptor.com/freq?gram=hillary,obama
[...] gigantesca de aplicações diferentes feitas com o Twitter. Cada vez que vou ver, tem mais coisa. O Online Journalism Blog publicou um texto para incontáveis utilizações diferentes – e aplicativos – diferentes. Ah, sobre o Twitter, [...]
@diego thanks for that – now added. Looks very good.
[...] Bradshaw has a terrific post at Online Journalism Blog on the myriad ways “Journalists Can Master Twitter.” The post is worth reading just for his list of recommended Twitter tools that can stock your [...]
[...] Bradshaw has an excellent post on the OJB giving a wide range of information about the best use of Twitter. It does have a slant for journalists however as I would expect Journalists to be following a great [...]
[...] Paul Bradshaw on how journalists can master twitter and Shawn Smith gives a good primer on RSS [...]
[...] INDISPENSÁVEL: How journalists can master Twitter (blogger’s cut). [...]
Paul – thanks for looking into MessageDance. Since then we have added more functionality to enhance experience surrounding Twitter/Blog and Email.
Now users can send Twitter status updates from Digg, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook and Google Reader.
Would be happy to let your readers join our private beta program.
Appreciate your efforts in helping journalists understand Twitter value.
Brij
[...] que li o post do Paul Bradshaw sobre os usos jornalísticos do twitter, comecei a prestar mais atenção nas dezenas de twitter tools, mashups e serviços que [...]
[...] schnellen Input von News befördert. Wir man Twitter nutzt, um an Informationen zu kommen, wird im Online Journalism Blog und bei Robert Basic [...]
[...] a long article for Journalism.co.uk on how you can use twitter for journalism [...]
Thanks for the nod for PicoBuzz.
Very comprehensive article. I thought I was up on all the twitter apps but this pointed me to a few new ones.
[...] Twitter has been getting some publicity lately, looking at its value as a reporting tool. Here are some articles on the subject:http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/05/19/twitter-as-the-canary-in-the-news-coalmine/http://scobleizer.com/2008/05/18/why-google-news-has-no-noise/http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/05/microblogging_maniatwitter_hel.htmlhttp://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/30/project-vino-twitter-wine-tasting/http://onlinejournalismblog.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/how-journalists-can-master-twitter/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/twitter_for_journalists.phphttp://www.journalism.co.uk/7/articles/531439.php [...]
[...] dialogue between users as you reply publicly to other tweets, which is encouraged. As well as being immensely useful for journalists, another strength of Twitter is the use of SMS; for alerts when people send a tweet and also to [...]
[...] with Twitter over the last year or so. Paul Bradshaw provided a useful overview on his Online Journalism Blog and Jeff Jarvis weighed in here. It was only a question of time before theses on Twitter started to [...]
[...] involved in and talk about those issues. For example, if you’re into journalism, check out How journalists can master Twitter . Go to http://search.twitter.com/ and do a search on your topic of interest and see who’s [...]
[...] How journalists can master Twitter – Online Journalism Blog Share or saveClose Bookmark and Share This Page Save to Browser Favorites / BookmarksAskbackflipblinklistBlogBookmarkBloglinesBlogMarksBlogsvineBuddyMarksBUMPzee!CiteULikeco.mmentsConnoteadel.icio.usDiggdiigoDotNetKicksDropJackdzoneFacebookFarkFavesFeed Me LinksFriendsitefolkd.comFurlGoogleHuggJamespotJeqqKaboodlekirtsylinkaGoGoLinkedInLinksMarkerMa.gnoliaMister WongMixxMySpaceMyWebNetvouzNewsvineoneviewOnlyWirePlugIMPropellerRedditRojoSegnaloShoutwireSimpySlashdotSphereSphinnSpurlSquidooStumbleUponTechnoratiThisNextTwitterWebrideWindows LiveWorlds MoviesYahoo!Email This to a FriendCopy HTML: If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.Powered by Bookmarkify™ More » Sphere: Related Content [...]
[...] do..?’ Tutorials also frequently top websites ‘most-shared’ lists and can be enormously useful in generating goodwill in your sphere – not to mention attracting comments that then add to and [...]
This is a really helpful article. As a journalism student, I just use Twitter for a short period. Frankly speaking, I only know the function of updating my status. And at first, I think it is simple and boring. However, after reading this guide about Twitter, I get some tips about how to use it in a journalism way, and try some other functions provided by the Twitter. Though many people still not know Twitter, I believe it will become another successful Web 2.0 tool as Facebook and Youtube.
LOL
Good :}
Very Good!
kisses
thanks for this informative article!
Ive been using twitter for some of my businesses and have to say it does generate a lot of potential customers. Twitter has a really wide array of applications and can be really useful if one knows how to harness it’s potential.
Great post. This is excellent info/resources for non-journalists as well – I learned a bunch of stuff and have a few new tools to check out
[...] but I have finally bitten the bullet and signed up to see what I can discover. Articles like this one from Paul Bradshaw advise how to use Twitter to your advantage in this profession – advice [...]
Good post – has inspired me to really get my teeth into Twitter. Hopefully will make progress and will track it on my blog – http://tinyurl.com/lmtv92
Indeed, ‘Twitter is what you make it’. Great list of tools!
I didn’t know there were quite so many resources available. I’ll be checking them out.
Thanks for useful tips
Nice article. Finally . . . some real, solid, practical and industry-specific uses for Twitter that don’t involve “making a million dollars!” or “getting 2,000 followers a day!” Really, really nice work here. Thank you.
Impressive list!
During elections here in Germany – hypes on twitter were really amazing.
I am following your blog, for a long time. Because, your blog is including, useful and necessary information. Your blog is in my browser’ s bookmarks.
Good jobs.
I think twitter is a very nice service and i like the new design 2010. Hypes on it were really amazing!
I’ll be checking all the resources out!
[...] How journalists can master Twitter (blogger’s cut), a great guide by Paul Bradshaw, from April 2008 [...]
[...] How journalists can master Twitter (blogger’s cut) | Online Journalism Blog Great guide to getting started and managing Twitter for newsgathering, distribution, engagement and conversation (tags: journalism howto twitter tips online onlinenewspapers) [...]
Really, the Twitter is a great tool, here in Brazil is becoming popular between the journalists
[...] británico Paul Bradshaw, promotor incansable de este tipo de herramientas, comparte en su blog algunas pistas para incorporar Twitter al arsenal de todo periodista o medio de [...]
[...] digital journalist Paul Bradshaw, a tireless advocate for such tools, share some clues on his blog to incorporate Twitter into the arsenal of any journalist or media [...]
This is another great resource of information about some free Twitter tools.
http://virtualrescue.net/social-media-how-to-articles-and-videos
[...] post from Paul Bradshaw contains lots of useful advice and links to supplement our Twitter sessions this [...]
[...] frequently top websites ‘most-shared’ lists and can be enormously useful in generating goodwill in your sphere – [...]
[...] check out guides and tips from Paul Bradshaw and Richard [...]
[...] news website. There are various way you can use Twitter and I would suggest you to have a look at How journalists can master Twitter an extract from Paul Bradshaw’s Online Journalism [...]
[...] he replied to one of my tweets featuring one of his quotes, and have since read his blog post on ‘How Journalists Can Master Twitter‘, which has given me quite good ideas when looking at who to follow. He makes the point [...]
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Thanks for amusing article