Maria Hechanova
Voices
Journalists share their thoughts on the social networking phenomenon.
Twitter is being used by major news organizations like CNN, National Public Radio, and The New York Times. Sreenath Sreenivasan, a new media professor at Columbia University, says that it’s like radio in 1912 and television in the 1950s. “News organizations are deciding what they’re going to do with it and the smart ones are using it to reach a wider audience.”
The Orange County Register is a newspaper that encourages its staff to use Twitter and other social networking Web sites. “Management keeps track of what stories generate the most clicks, and that’s a method by which our success is judged,” arts and entertainment writer Richard Chang said.
Twitter is like the Wild West in a way, Chang said. “We don’t know where it’s going, but it’s important so we’re all on board.”
Four other journalists share their thoughts on the social networking phenomenon, Twitter.
Ann Curry
Ann Curry
News Anchor, Today; Co-Anchor, Dateline
Ann Curry started using Twitter this spring and says, “it rocks!” Curry explains why she likes using it and what to look for when verifying information. She says it offers an outlet to include information that didn’t make it into the traditional broadcast. Follow Ann Curry on Twitter.
[podcast]http://blogs.aaja.org/conventionnews/wp-content/podcast/Curry_FINAL.mp3[/podcast]
Elizabeth Chuck, aka datelinenbc.
Elizabeth Chuck
Web Producer for NBC News and msnbc.com
Elizabeth Chuck recalls how Twitter played a factor in reporting the emergency landing of Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in January. She says her news organization is still experimenting with how they use it. Follow Elizabeth Chuck’s tweets on Twitter.
[podcast]http://blogs.aaja.org/conventionnews/wp-content/podcast/Chuck_FINAL.mp3[/podcast]
John Schiumo, aka Schiumo.
John Schiumo
Host – NY1 The Call
John Schiumo is the host of NY1’s television show, “The Call,” which airs in New York. Each day, the TV news program asks its viewers to decide the top news stories by having people vote online. Schiumo talks about Twitter’s popularity and why journalists should be careful when using it to make contacts. Follow John Schiumo on Twitter.
[podcast]http://blogs.aaja.org/conventionnews/wp-content/podcast/Schiumo_FINAL.mp3[/podcast]
Sandeep Junnarkar
Sandeep Junnarkar
Associate Professor @ CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Sandeep Junnarkar teaches online journalism and believes that new media is the future of the industry. In this phone interview, he discusses why Twitter can be a useful tool for journalists. Follow Sandeep Junnarkar on Twitter.
[podcast]http://blogs.aaja.org/conventionnews/wp-content/podcast/Junnarkar_FINAL.mp3[/podcast]
