Soon after I posted my frustration at journalism students being slow to adopt Twitter, I came up with an idea: you only really start using Twitter when there is a social reason – so why not help by creating those social connections? I posted a call-out to Twitter:
Anyone willing to ‘adopt’ a journalism student on Twitter and answer their questions about it?
The response (especially on a Sunday afternoon) was heartwarming – within less than an hour I had more than one ‘Twentor’ (thanks to Scott Keegan for that word) per student – responses below. Two days later and the effect has been noticeable – the majority of students had started chatting to their mentors and you could see the lights switching on.
Needless to say the Twentoring idea itself makes two very strong points about Twitter: firstly, how it can be used as a source of support; and secondly, how easy it is to make professional contacts.
When Dave Lee came to speak to the students yesterday he compared it to ‘getting your feet under the table’ at a news organisation – now, as a journalism student, when the local news team needs a hand you can be ‘there’ in a virtual sense to offer help.
Thanks to all who offered to join the ‘Twentoring’ scheme. Here are their responses in full:
paulbradshaw: Anyone willing to ‘adopt’ a journalism student on Twitter and answer their questions about it?
about a day ago
MissCay: I don’t mind doing that!
about a day ago
gabysslave: yes we kind of did that at brumtwestival
about a day ago
amypalko: What kind of questions? Do you want just anyone or someone from a specific field?
about a day ago
davidelstone: I wouldn’t mind – but my experience is more broadcast than online.
about a day ago
tobynutter: do they have to be stalwart users or can relative newbies such as myself join in?
about a day ago
JayneHowarth: i don’t mind, but not sure how helpful I’d be!
about a day ago
DVDsnapshot: Love to! Former journalism grad myself!
about a day ago
Vivdora: have been on twitter for two+ years, not a geek could I help?
about a day ago
DotLepkowska: I don’t mind helping out a student. Happy to help if I can.
about a day ago
julianlstar: I’ll contribute to that one
about a day ago
lauraAjones: If your 1st job takes you to Hull & you grew up in Brum it’s an ace way to research the patch, v.happy to ‘adopt’ someone
about a day ago
ClareWhite: I’d be willing if my cynical ex-journalist world view is at all helpful 🙂
about a day ago
Screenjabber: Me too – always happy to try to help the up-and-comers. Surprised people still choose journalism as a career!
about a day ago
Calli: Let me know if I can help in any way
about a day ago
halbluchs: Twitter adoption? Sounds interesting 😉 I’m in.
about a day ago
standupkid: Always happy to answer questions…
about a day ago
NigelBarlow: can a mature journalism student adopt one ?
about a day ago
neil_raygun: I’m happy to. Not around much for the rest of today, but happy to answer any questions they have.
about a day ago
tombeardshaw: happy to twentor someone – already doing it for companies, DJs & misc layabouts 🙂
about a day ago
Lucas_MG: I’ll “adopt” a student if needed.
about a day ago
Online Journalism Blog 
Very happy to have been able to help. My “twentee” was a little slow to respond to me but I was delighted when she tweeted to say she was getting the hang of Twitter at last.
Twentoring is a great idea as it’s only by using Twitter that journalism students will see the possibilities. Even I, with many years of experience behind me, was slow to take up Twitter and discover how useful it can be. It does take a while for the penny to drop as it’s not immediately obvious how useful Twitter can be.
Apologies – one problem was many didn’t realise you had to click on @replies to see them – my oversight.
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