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10 Pros And 10 Cons Of Twitter For Journalists

Posted by Craig Kanalley | Posted in Commentary | Posted on 27-06-2009

Comments

Like anything, Twitter has its advantages and disadvantages. Whether you’re new to Twitter or not, it’s important you’re able to identify these and adjust to use Twitter in the best ways possible.

Here’s a list of pros and cons of the service, specifically with journalists in mind. Feel free to add to it by leaving a comment or replying to @TwitJourn.

Pros

  • Instantaneous, “realtime”
  • Potential to grow audience
  • Many different voices and perspectives
  • Worldwide use
  • Tip service
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Free to use
  • Raw, no editing, no filters
  • Democratizes the news
  • Links for more information

Cons

  • Verification issues
  • Limiting – 140 characters at a time
  • Not ubiquitous – technology issues for 3rd world countries/poor
  • Rumors, misinformation, especially during breaking news
  • Government censorship
  • Means of propaganda
  • Lack of analysis, deeper meaning
  • Presence of spam, worm attacks
  • Questions of accountability, intentions
  • Squatters and fake accounts

Personally, I believe the pros far outweigh the cons.  In response to the issue of verification, I recommend reading “How to verify a tweet.” I also elaborate on rumors and misinformation in “Lessons to be learned from Michael Jackson frenzy on Twitter.”

  • I agree with your pros and cons.
  • Rob
    I would argue most of the "cons" exist for MSM as well.
  • I just try to keep myself away from the hookers and MLM that join the account to spam everyone in your list or take advantage of your connections.
  • ckanal
    Nice.
  • Great post, Craig. For journalists, some of the real issues you present as cons can be turned into pros.

    Issues of propaganda, fake accounts and false intentions can be uncovered by "new" journalists trained to quickly authenticate tweets and detect misinformation.

    Although individual tweets rarely provide deep meaning, every thoughtful analysis will need to include facts that were probably first shared on Twitter.

    If we believe that people want to know the truth, then the need for experienced reporters will grow with the popularity of real-time social media tools, as long as reporters can make sense of Twitter and other sources of user-generated content.
  • ckanal
    Great points here, Kevin.

    I agree completely that Twitter often shares facts first, but also that a journalist needs to know how to sort through the content and best utilize it. That vetting is necessary with so much clutter on Twitter.
  • Nicole
    Interesting.
    Under "pros," I'd like to add "portability/convenience." Many journalists now live blog events, which requires being tied down to a computer, etc. Twitter gives reporters the opportunity to keep a microblog while running around a golf course, standing in the middle of the National Mall, etc.
    Under "cons," I'd like to note "false sense of celebrity." I think it's very easy for your average person to get wrapped up in creating an online personality; with Twitter, anyone can be a celebrity, regaling the masses with their wit and wisdom. For journalists, this trap can be dangerous; even though Twitter provides interactivity with readers and sources, it's important for journalists to remember that they're just the storyteller, not the story.
  • ckanal
    Great additions, Nicole. I agree with both.

    Thanks for adding them to this post as a comment; I think they'll be useful for those who stop by.
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