In between jobs, tonight I spoke at the Columbia University Journalism School’s advanced social media workshop with the amazing Sree Sreenivasan (@Sree). (Don’t miss Sree’s Storify of the event here.)

TwitPics by Lydia Burdick and Gregory Galante

Thanks to the many live-tweeters during my time on stage (scrolling through after was really interesting!), I’m able to put together some highlights. Here are 10 tips to make the most of Twitter, based on some of my learnings the past three years.

1. You have to start somewhere: You don’t have to know everything about Twitter to get started. It’s a never-ending stream. Just jump right in.

2. Who you follow is so important: This ultimately defines your Twitter experience. Follow people you admire, who inspire and who are doing what you want to do.

3. It’s OK to get a little obsessed: Making the most of Twitter requires a lot of time, experimentation and energy. Keep at it. You’ll learn a lot and have a chance to network.

4. Help others, they’ll help you: Engage with and help others whenever you can. The great thing is if you keep doing this, it’ll come back to you.

5. You’ll never know everything: The best part about Twitter is nobody has all the answers and you’re always learning. Twitter’s a great place to learn new things in general.

6. Tweet frequently: You don’t have to post 20 times a day, but at least stay active if you can. Mix in replies and retweets so it’s not just you talking.

7. Don’t trust everything you see: Be skeptical of what you read. Spend some time with the post “How To Verify A Tweet.”

8. Connect with your followers: Get to know your audience and try to post tweets that provoke emotion, are controversial or have universal appeal, as these tend to do best.

9. Think before you tweet: Make sure you know what you’re saying and you’re comfortable saying it. Also, ask yourself – will this interest other people?

10. Network: Twitter’s a great way to get to know people of interest to you. And not just publicly, use private messages too. If comfortable enough, consider meeting in person.

*BONUS* Tip from @Sree: “Make your tweets blue.” Every tweet should have a link, @ mention, or hashtag. It stands out on Twitter and it just makes the most of the platform. For every tweet you include an @ mention, you know at least someone will read it.

————————

RELATED:

Quick Tips For Twitter Newbies

How To Choose Who To Follow

Tips For “Live Tweeting” An Event

The Importance Of #Hashtags In Your Tweets

How To Verify A Tweet

So when I saw a tweet yesterday, July 5 2010, saying that we had finally reached the date that Doc set the DeLorean for in Part I of three-part series, I did what any time-traveling, Biff-hating fanboy would do—I immediately retweeted it.

Great Scott, what a mistake. By retweeting the “fun fact” (and sharing my sadness over my lack of hoverboard), I had contributed to the one thing that worries me the most about Twitter: the over 88 mile per hour dissemination of false information. See, “Back to the Future” quickly became a Trending Topic, but it did so with one major problem. , Despite how cool it would have been, the information in the original tweet wasn’t true. It was actually blatantly wrong.

This was pointed out first (at least to me) in a post by @saleemkhan:

@saleemkhan: “conclusive video proof that today is not Back to the Future day: http://is.gd/dgiy2 thanks to @edbott.” [RT @mathewi]

That link has since been taken down, but I found another. Let’s first pause and enjoy the nostalgia. Then we talk about how serious of a problem this is for social media.

The video clearly shows that July 5, 2010 is not the date. Later in the movie, Doc Brown sets the Delorean for November 5 2015, picking “30 years in the future” as a “nice round number” for where he was going next. Spotting the mistake is easy with a bit of fact-checking. But more often than not, we don’t always fact-check what we retweet. Sometimes, like this time, we just accept what we read as true.

I actually wrote a blog post about this cultural habit of accepting tweets (and headlines) as true earlier this semester. In short, Twitter can be dangerous for the general public. For people who glue themselves to HootSuite and Seesmic and only step away to eat and use the restroom (us), misleading or inaccurate tweets are not a problem. We’ll notice when they’re corrected, whether it be by a random observer or the person who made the mistake in the first place. We then go on with our lives knowing what’s true.

The general public doesn’t do that. They’re left holding onto that false information, thinking its correct, because they saw it, took it in, and moved on. This is a widespread habit with the inherent speed in which we digest social media. It’s not restricted to Twitter.

Before I found the “conclusive video proof that today is not Back to the Future day,” I made the mistake of posting the fake piece of trivia as my Facebook status. Once I found out it was wrong, I immediately left a comment jokingly saying that “someone lied to me” and more importantly, letting everyone know that today was not the day in the movie. What happened next, after I made the correction? Five people “Liked” my status. They didn’t take the time to see the correction.

We, as a culture, inhale social media. We don’t digest it. My last post was targeted towards news organizations. It emphasized the responsibility of the press in preparing news for a medium that spreads information so quickly. This post is for everyone. We all need to recognize the power of a tool like Twitter for spreading information. We need to put some thought into – and heaven forbid, even double-check – the content of the 140 characters we decide to post.

 Bensimon’s shared her viewpoint of “Scary Island” as a result of what she called systematic bullying.

While everyone on the show was telling Bensimon that she had a breakdown, she insisted that it was a breakthrough and that it was all a result of the four women ganging up on her and bullying her. This enraged the women, however Bensimon was insistent.

 Bensimon also acknowledged that she did not want to go on the trip, but that Bravo forced her to do so. The host of the show Andy said that was untrue. The dialogue went as follows:

Kelly: I was forced by Bravo to go on the trip.

Andy: That’s not true. But I appreciate it.

Kelly: It’s true. Everybody knows that.

Andy: That’s not true.

Kelly: Andy. It’s true though but thank you, I appreciate it.

Look slike the Peanut Gallery is siding with Bethenny:

1. 
   As_seen_from_tv Bethenny Frankel: Reality TV Is “Not Good” for Kelly’s Health: Us Magazine
   But I’ve never seen anything like it –… http://bit.ly/dhKuXA 15 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed
2. 
   pajanimalmom @kikiletReal NYC Housewife Kelly Bensimon Attacks Bethenny Frankel. Again. | Celebrity Gossip http://bit.ly/9y8NOT 15 Jun 2010 from TweetMeme
3. 
   juhjuhjuhjustin Kelly Killoren Bensimon is INSANE. OMGEEEEZUSSS 15 Jun 2010 from txt
4. 
   theprincessdy Work sucks. I’m going to drink a huge cocktail tonight and record an anti-bullying PSA in my living room a la Kelly Killoren Bensimon. 15 Jun 2010 from web
5. 
   LAmill02 Just finished watching the reunion part 2 …. @BethennyWhere can I get the phone number for the Kelly Bensimon “bullying hotline”? haha 15 Jun 2010 from web
6. 
   TheCortezEffect Correction::: kelly bensimon is a nut case…she sounds like she’s bipolar & multiple personalities in one ball 15 Jun 2010 from UberTwitter
7. 
   UptownGirl_Lyss Kelly Bensimon– I didn’t think it was possible, but watching your “break through” has made me give up candy. 15 Jun 2010 from web
8. 
   kenneth212 All kidding aside, it’s time for Bravo to address Kelly Killoren Bensimon’s mental illness. http://tinyurl.com/2dmkv6m @kikilet @bethenny 15 Jun 2010 from web
9. 
   katehutson Kelly Killoren Bensimon thinks she really justified herself on the RHoNY reunion, but she just made a bigger ass of herself. 15 Jun 2010 from UberTwitter
10. 
    capitalismlives Check out: ‘Real Housewife’ Kelly Bensimon Acts Really Crazy (VIDEO) http://bit.ly/bXCmlk by @tvsquad . This woman needs serious help. 15 Jun 2010 from web

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwSPWmW33hE&feature=related

Many Candy enthusiasts were excited to attend the show.

1. 
   BusseyBrittle All Candy Expo Jelly Belly, All Candy Expo Mccormick Place, 11th … http://bit.ly/cGWHJP 14 Jun 2010 from Pluggio
2. 
   cravingsomethin New candy! Report from the Sweets & Snacks Expo http://bit.ly/b2ioWt (via @cakewrecks) 12 Jun 2010 from Twitter for iPhone
3. 
   jakenewman1 The longest trek for a piece of candy: The Sweets and Snacks Expo 2010 http://linkee.com/GSC 11 Jun 2010 from API
4. 
   DeniseRyan Truffle mania from Candy Expo #sse10 http://bit.ly/9eQbw 11 Jun 2010 from TweetDeck

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

While the rest of the team stayed in the audience, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews talked about their big win while wearing their Olympic medals.

“It’s a great feeling to bring the cup back to Chicago,” Kane told Leno.

Many fans are still overwhelmed and excited for the new Stanley Cup Champs. Duncan Keith even gave Leno a very special necklace with a tooth on it..

1. 
   ironone9 AWESOME & SWEET!!! The Tonight Show with Jay Leno – Chicago Blackhawks – Video – NBC.com: http://bit.ly/d5bQer 15 Jun 2010 from web
2. 
   keichorst Hilarious, @NHLBlackhawks visited The Tonight Show & Duncan Keith gave Leno a necklace with one of his teeth! http://tinyurl.com/26gfgn6 15 Jun 2010 from web
3. 
   Suntimes Did the Blackhawks manage to make Leno cool? Or did he drag them down a notch? http://bit.ly/cjxfyr #discuss 15 Jun 2010 from bitly

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

@nbcchicago Looks like We’ve got some pics!! @wheresthecup HARRY CAREY’s http://yfrog.com/7fxy4j
@nbcchicago: PHOTO: #Blackhawks celebrating with the Stanley Cup at Tavern on Rush http://yfrog.com/muhyxj
@wheresthecup It’s definitely at @RockitChicago, confirmed by @BillyDec and this pic –>http://ping.fm/9mPwc
The #StanleyCup Confirmed at Market in the west loop @WheresTheCup

The #StanleyCup is at @StanleysKitchen confirmed by @WheresTheCup
#Stanley Cup at @Underground confirmed by @WheresTheCup & @BillyDec
@wheresthecup - It was…http://twitpic.com/1vvnuq #HawkRall
The #StanleyCup is at the Hyatt Hotel (http://twitpic.com/1vvnuq) confirmed by @WheresTheCup
@LuxBarChicago: Spotted! The Stanley Cup just arrived at Lux Bar #Blackhawks #Chicagohttp://tweetphoto.com/2676 …
Confirmed: #StanleyCup headed to Wrigley for #Cubs vs. #WhiteSoxSunday night.http://trib.in/bT1CdJ .

Starters of the first line: Toews, Kane, and Byfuglien aka ‘Big Buff’, were split into different lines to switch up the game strategy. Coach Quenneville wanted to switch up the lines after the Blackhawks poor performances in both Games 3 and 4 in Philly.

1. 
   Blackhawks Toews, Kane come alive on new lines – Philadelphia Daily News http://is.gd/cG6n7 07 Jun 2010 from EasyTweets

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

The line change turned out to be incredibly powerful in Game 5 at the United Center as six Blackhawks’ players scored earning them a 3-2 lead and the best performance of the series.

Jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first period Quenneville commented, “I thought we had good energy right from the outset. Great pace. Had speed on all the lines. I think there was some balance as far as offensive ability, reliability defensively. Kept that pace from start to finish.”

The top line of Toews centered between Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopeck opened the game to generate scoring opportunities as well as pressure from the onset against the Flyers. Of the three, only Toews had a point (an assist on a power play), but together combined the top line had 13 shots on goal.

Kane spent the night on the second line along with Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd who clicked from the outset. Kane and Sharp had a goal and an assist and Ladd assisted on Kane’s goal that put Chicago ahead 4-1 early in the second period.

1. 
   stanleycupfan Patrick Kane had his finest effort of the Stanley Cup finals in Game 5. – ESPN: Globe and MailPatrick Kane had http://url4.eu/4L4yp 11 Jun 2010 from RSS2Twitter

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

But it was the third line of Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg and Dave Bolland who did most of the damage on the Flyers. Byfuglien had 2 goals and 2 assists, Versteeg had 1 goal and 2 assists and Bolland had 1 goal and 1 assist.

1. 
   R4Rankin @NHL Byfuglien hit on Pronger in game 5 … things were going downhill from there. 10 Jun 2010 from web in reply to NHL
2. 
   570WSYRNews Byfuglien powers Blackhawks to Game 5 win: Dustin Byfuglien finally broke out, scoring two goa… http://bit.ly/bkfdIi ~ 570 WSYR NewsRadio 10 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed
3. 
   NHL_Goalies Every Blackhawks player except for goalie Antti Niemi touched the puck leading to Byfuglien’s goal. http://bit.ly/bRPpI8 10 Jun 2010 from Proxifeed

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

“I think you have to give Joel credit,” Sharp said. “He has a great feel for making adjustments as the series goes on and mixing and matching lines. I think the way we came out skating for tonight’s game, you could have put anybody with anybody. That was our best first period in a while and it was nice to see.”

Part of the idea behind splitting up the Kane-Toews-Byfuglien line was to divide them away from Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, who has been instrumental in shutting the line down. After four games, the line combined had only 1 goal, 4 assists and a minus-13 rating. Times changed in Game 5 as Pronger was on the ice for six of the Blackhawks’ seven goals and was in the penalty box for the other one.

1. 
   globehockey Globe on Hockey: Quenneville’s new lines finally get to Pronger: A breakdown of what the Blackhawks coach did to r… http://bit.ly/dxx9X5 07 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

“When we mix up lines, we’re great,” said Bolland, who thought it was “great” that Pronger was on the ice for so many goals. “I think everybody’s played with everybody in this room. Everybody has chemistry with everybody on this team. I think that was the best thing, switching up lines and putting everybody together the whole season is great for us because you never know when this time will come and today was the day.”

Pronger offered a different assessment, “I don’t know if the changes mattered all that much. We didn’t do a very good job in the neutral zone. Unless we get pressure and force them to make plays, anyone can make a play when they have all day to make one. We just need to get a better forecheck, be better in the neutral zone and force them to make tougher decisions with the puck.”

Flyers Slacking

Some Blackhawks found out about their new linemates during the morning practice while others had no idea who they were going to have on their line until right before game time. Regardless of when the news was delivered, it was a much-needed change that the players were not bitter about.

As Jonathan Toews put it, “The line changes obviously looked like a good thing. But the number one thing was the way we played as a team. We all understand in our locker room it doesn’t matter who you are playing with. You have to go out there and make a difference.”

Senator Lincoln has powerful friends after the 2008 DNC Convention

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Does the Democratic Party have its own version of the Tea Party in the Progressive movement? In a bizaaro-world version of Rand Paul’s victory in Kentucky or Bob Bennett’s Tea Party inspired loss, Progressives have been gathering momentum around Progressive candidate Bill Halter and against moderate incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln. Despite support from President Obama and former President Bill Clinton, Halter forced a runoff in the primary.

1. 
   BillHalter Polls are open until 7:30pm today. Please get out and vote! Find your polling place: http://bit.ly/9101oi #ARSen #billhalter 08 Jun 2010 from web

There was no verified Blanche Lincoln Twitter account at the time of this post.

1. 
   smsyellowpages Bill Halter, Blanche Lincoln Take Runoff Bids into Final Hours: Lincoln and Halter have spent more… http://bit.ly/drzUiD – Keep Watching! 08 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed
2. 
   21stCenturyDems Today is the run-off election between Bill Halter and Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Let’s show corporate Democrats… http://bit.ly/9Pvrpb 08 Jun 2010 from Facebook

Over $10 million has been spent on campaigning. Some feel the resources spent and the attack ads will only do damade to the winner’s chances in the general election. Republican  Congressman John Boozman currently leads in polling over either winner. Republican Chair Michael Steele thought the “intraparty civil war” would only help Boozman.

Some Republicans are again trying a strategy, much like the famous “Operation Chaos” in the 2008 Presidential Primary,  and are making no bones about trying to rig the race in their favor.

1. 
   stacksjp Make sure to vote in today’s run off if you are eligible… FYI vote Lincoln so she can get waxed on Nov 2, Halter is a wild card 08 Jun 2010 from HootSuite

This race may have as much of a symbolic impact future ideological direction of the Democratic party as the Rand Paul Kentucky victory did for the Republican party.

1. 
   ggreenwald Today would be a good day if Blanche Lincoln is removed from the Senate. Would send a nice message to national Democrats. 08 Jun 2010 from web

However, even if the Progressive candidate were to unseat the incumbent, the message it would send may still be murky.

Is it a signal that voters are displaying their anger at Washington party politics and voting for anti-establishment candidates? Keep in mind that Halter is the Lt. Governor of Arkansas, which isn’t exactly a huge leap. Rand Paul on the other hand, despite having little to no political experience to boost his anti-establishment credentials, in all likelihood benefited from patronage. The Rands could just as easily be the Tea Party’s answer to the Kennedys.

Is it that voters are becoming less interested in moderate ideals or is it that it is simply easier to generate more of a buzz around idealism than it is around moderation and compromise?

1. 
   SociaEnterprise I hope the White House will finally support Bill Halter once he wins the Primary 08 Jun 2010 from web
2. 
   didderbops Taking bets:How long b4 media bemoans loss of another “reasonable moderate” after Blanche Lincoln loses? Less than 24 hrs is oddson favorite 08 Jun 2010 from Twitter for BlackBerry®
3. 
   youvotedforhim Surprisingly, Blanche Lincoln is accused by the unions of being too conservative. Gees. We really need to educate these people. 08 Jun 2010 from API
4. 
   SoccerMouaz Voter For Blanche Lincoln today she’s the only chance to keep a Moderate Senator in office from Arkansas 08 Jun 2010 from web

As the evening progressed it proved to be a pretty close race. With about 50% of precincts reporting it was well within the margin of error.

At the end of the day, the forces of incumbency and powerful friends in current President Obama and former President Bill Clinton were too much for Halter to overcome. Blanche Lincoln won with 52% of the vote.

1. 
   politico AP calls it for Sen. Blanche Lincoln. #ARSEN 09 Jun 2010 from web
2. 
   pourmecoffee Cheers going up at Blanche Lincoln headquarters: “When I say Status, you say Quo! Status!” 09 Jun 2010 from TwitterGadget
3. 
   jackwadeshow Bill Halter is a true agent of change. The White House did everything they could to put Blanche Lincoln into office. #p2 #notmychange 09 Jun 2010 from web
4. 
   SarahFlowers Bill Halter is one hell of a guy. I am very proud to have worked for him and on behalf of middle class families. 09 Jun 2010 from web
5. 
   kylemtownsend Here’s to a strong, sensible voice in the senate – Blanche Lambert Lincoln – and her fierce effort, knocking off Bill Halter – twice! 09 Jun 2010 from txt

Lincoln was moved further to the left on financial reform by Halter’s campaign and now claims she “gets” why there was an anti-incumbent surge.

“After a great deal of thought and discussion, we have decided to separate,” the Gores wrote in an e-mail to friends on June 1st. “This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together.” Gore spokeswomen Kalee Kreider confirmed the statement came from the Gores, but declined to comment further.

Al Gore once claimed his romance with wife Tipper had inspired the novel “Love Story”, but now the Gores say they have grown separate lives according to Yahoo News.

Some have speculated that Al Gore was having or had an affair:

1. 
   divorcesecrets Al Gore Affair – The Reason for Tipper Gore & Al Gore’s Divorce? http://bit.ly/d3r0Uf 06 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

The Gores have maintained that there was no affair involved in their decision to separate and that their decision was mutually supportive.

1. 
   Buzztab New blog post: Al Gore denies any affair behind his divorce http://www.buzztab.com/politics/al-gore-denies-affair-divorce/ 02 Jun 2010 from Twitter Tools
2. 
   contentengine Al Gore Affair? Friends Address Speculation After Al And Tipper Gore Separate http://bit.ly/bt9KaH 05 Jun 2010 from Ping.fm

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

According to a blog article in the New York Times, “Divorce: It’s Not Always About You”, separating after a long marriage may not be so uncommon these days. As the baby boomer generation ages towards retirement, couples are finding it harder to stay together.

According to recent Census Bureau data, 8 percent of divorced couples had been had married for 30 to 50 years. “Compared with the rest of the married population, these couples divorce at one-quarter the rate of those who have been married for fewer years.”

Two developments, culture and biological, have provided reason as to why the baby boomer generation is more likely to divorce after decades of marriage. Culturally, people now want a marriage that promotes their personal fulfillment. Biologically, people are living longer.

The baby boomer generation is healthier and wealthier than any generation before, giving them the opportunity to seek out more in life. Sometimes, this new passion results in divorce, not only a divorce from ones spouse but a divorce from one life to begin another with the means to afford it.

Many children of the baby boomer generation feel much differently about divorce after so many years together. After studying children growing up with divorce or gender-line blurs, Kathleen Gerson found that 95 percent of both women and men (including gays and lesbians) hope to create a collaborative, mutually supportive relationship that stands the test of time.

Many have been shocked by the recent Al Gore and Topper Gore separation. Some remain hopeful for a long and fulfilling marriage, while others feel disgruntled that if the Gores couldn’t make it work, then who could?

1. 
   xoxohockeygirl Al Gore wow….i have to wonder why the split? an affair? no love? not straight? regardless it’s sad to see a marriage of 40 years end! 02 Jun 2010 from web
2. 
   fivedirections Re: Al and Tipper Gore…Time for anthropologists to take a look at the institute of marriage? http://ht.ly/1UQC8 07 Jun 2010 from HootSuite
3. 
   alkalinity Researchers Study Brain Scans for Insight to Marriage – LAKE IDYLLIn 2000, Tipper and Al Gore gave no sign of probl… http://ht.ly/17DUnU 07 Jun 2010 from HootSuite
4. 
   wendyrawley They break up, we suffer: Al and Tipper Gore don’t owe us a thing, but still: If their marriage couldn’t last, wha… http://bit.ly/cAsxtZ 07 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed

– this quote was brought to you by quoteurl