Comments on: Is Immediacy (re Twitter and Blogging) a Good Thing for Writers?

By: Debbie H.

Debbie H. — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:40:39 +0000

Well, as a professional political opinion columnist, I find it very important to let the news and events “digest” in my mind. My brain needs the processing time to really think about the issue or topic at hand so I can come to conclusions that I feel make sense and can be backed up with good sound reasoning.
We all need to just stop and think a little more. However, I did respond to this post almost immediately after reading it. ;)

By: Isaac

Isaac — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:24:53 +0000

I tweet (@isaacsweeney), but I don’t use it as a substitute for actual writing. Blogging is a little more credible for accurate information, so long as the blogger is knowledgeable and has done his/her homework.

I still get news from newspapers. I get opinions from bloggers. Blogs are for conversations, I think. Twitter is for social networking.

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:08:15 +0000

Loved this article. Loved it. And I agree. No one should let Twittering get in the way of listening, taking notes and being able to put together a reasonably coherent interpretation of what was being said. And I think any copy that’s been edited by a good editor is preferable to copy that hasn’t. That said, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I don’t think journalists should never sent out updates by Twitter during an event or speech. I think it could be useful for breaking news purposes in some instances. Say you’re attending a mayor’s state of the city address, and he mentions that the city is going to raise its sales tax next year. Why not send out a quick tweet, saying, “Mayor So-and-So just announced the sales tax will go up a half cent next year”? Of course, the important thing is to make sure that you have all your facts straight before you send out the tweet. That’s what worries me about people who send out a constant stream of tweets–are they really convinced they have all the right info and are ready to share it with the public?

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:52:40 +0000

Jan – I agree completely. Tweeting is far from journalism in my book. The bigger claim against journalists comes from the blogging side of it. What I find interesting on the Twitter end is that a lot of those folks act as though it’s their “right” to do so at any time, in any surrounding, and to hell with what’s actually going on around them (beyond that limited scope translating into tweets). Even more shocking to me is when I see claims that this immediacy in any way significantly could, or should, replace real journalism. Hell, even in blogging you can have editorial guidelines, and you can save and go back with fresh eyes before posting. Twitter on the other hand, to me, is about as close to anything journalistic as two high school kids passing notes in class.

Yo – I think you really hit the nail on the head. :) And again I agree – for those types of events, where attention to a speaker really isn’t an issue, I think it’s a much better use of the platforms.

By: Yo

Yo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:22:16 +0000

In the situation you presented, I think the person who opined is actually more interested in their own opinion and in manipulating the public’s interpretation of the “event” than they are in actually listening to and understanding the speaker. I do think that Twittering during the Oscars and other awards shows or sporting events is great :)

By: Jan Sokoloff Harness

Jan Sokoloff Harness — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:54:53 +0000

Tweeting is not journalism. Listening is a lost art. And manners are clearly on the endangered list.