Twitter & Journalists: The Need for A New Work Ethos Presented by Steve Fox, University of Massachusetts Las Vegas, October, 2013
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Twitter & Journalists: The Need for A New Work
Ethos
Presented by Steve Fox, University of Massachusetts
Las Vegas, October, 2013
About Me
“Recovering Journalist” – worked in print and online for 25 years, including 10 years at The Washington Post’s Web site.
Freelance as a “single Dad blogger” for Digital First Media and have freelanced for ESPN.com.
Consulted on several projects, including Jay Rosen’s journalism project, newassignment.net
Joined UMass in 2007 to upgrade their multimedia/Web course offerings.
What Would J.R. Do?
The Megaphone is Alive
The New Ecosystem?
Vicious circle of rumor/innuendo/slander arrives at every breaking news event. Not “if” but “when.”
“Citizen journalists” are eyewitnesses at many events – photos, videos have added value because of first-one-the-scene nature.
BUT -- Bad things happen when amateurs go beyond sharing what they are seeing.
Citizen Journalists Social Media
Social Media Bloggers
Bloggers News Sites
News sites Broadcast Outlets
It’s A Mobile World
State of Journalism
As of May 2013, 72% of online U.S. adults use social networking sites, up from 67% in late 2012. In February 2005, just 8% of online adults said they used social networking sites.
The percentage of internet users who are on Twitter has more than doubled since November 2010, currently standing at 18%. Internet users ages 18-29 are the most likely to use Twitter.
-- Pew Internet & American Life Project
The New Ecosystem?
Spaghetti against the wall journalism?
Is seeing how the sausage is made the way news is going to happen?
Do we accept errors and slanders as the “new journalism?”
Journalism 101
The Boston Marathon Bombings was a Journalism 101 lesson for amateurs (along with Newtown and the Navy Yard shooting.)
Police scanner reports are not news.
During breaking news events, reports during first few hours usually turn out to be wrong.
Back to the Future?
Can we get the pendulum to swing back? Is there a way to get everyone to calm down?
News organizations can/should engage with amateur/citizen journalists.
Work on developing a basic understanding that getting it right is more important than being first.
Transparency vs. Objectivity
#1: RETWEETING
Don’t retweet immediately. Especially if it’s breaking news.
YES! Retweeting is an implicit endorsement by you and your news organization.
If you think it is “just interesting” but haven’t checked it out, WAIT. Sometimes checking is a matter of looking at what else is out there.
#2: BE SKEPTICAL
Don’t Trust. Do your own reporting, don’t trust the reporting of others, even if NPR, NBC and CNN are attached to the tweet.
“If your mother tells you it’s true, check it out.”
If it’s good good to be true, well, it probably is.
#3: Call, Confirm, Confirm Again
Yes, Twitter is good for gathering news but calling sources directly can’t be overlooked.
Many of the journalistic disasters in the past few years could have been averted by picking up a phone and doing some original reporting.
Solid reporting takes time. Avoid anonymous sources.
#4: Listen, Think, Report, Verify, Engage
Yes, it’s basic reporting, let’s get back to it.
News organizations need to engage with those in their communities to set basic standards.
Twitter is where journalists are the new gatekeepers. Journalists need to be monitoring and knocking down rumors as they happen.
