Comments on: More on Twitter and the News http://inklingmedia.net/2009/10/more-on-twitter-and-the-news/ Social Media, Inbound Marketing, and SEO Solutions Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:18:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: kmueller62 http://inklingmedia.net/2009/10/more-on-twitter-and-the-news/comment-page-1/#comment-71 kmueller62 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:50:29 +0000 http://inklingmedia.net/?p=655#comment-71 Jeff - in many cases we ARE the reporters. If there is an accident on the highway, I might be on the scene, so to speak, and let people know. And you're right. We are now a very fuzzy combination of reporter/editor/op-ed columnist. Jeff – in many cases we ARE the reporters. If there is an accident on the highway, I might be on the scene, so to speak, and let people know. And you’re right. We are now a very fuzzy combination of reporter/editor/op-ed columnist.

]]> By: Jeff McCloud http://inklingmedia.net/2009/10/more-on-twitter-and-the-news/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Jeff McCloud Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:18:22 +0000 http://inklingmedia.net/?p=655#comment-70 Ken -- I would argue that we're not reporters because we're not on the scene. But we are all op-ed columnists offering our commentary and opinions on the issues and events of the day. I concur with your argument about the media being creators of stories because of their role as a gatekeeper. Ken — I would argue that we’re not reporters because we’re not on the scene. But we are all op-ed columnists offering our commentary and opinions on the issues and events of the day. I concur with your argument about the media being creators of stories because of their role as a gatekeeper.

]]> By: kmueller62 http://inklingmedia.net/2009/10/more-on-twitter-and-the-news/comment-page-1/#comment-65 kmueller62 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:33:23 +0000 http://inklingmedia.net/?p=655#comment-65 I agree, as well, Jeff. Though another way to look at it, via the power of gatekeeping, is that the media in some ways does create a story by either choosing to report or not on something. Kinda like the tree falling over in the forest. If something happens, and the media chooses not to report on it, in effect, it hasn't become "news." Which of course is a shame. Conversely, the media often chooses to report on a lot of things that many of us would consider non-stories. The news media is, afterall, dependent upon ratings/readership to survive, and unfortunately that factor often dictates the shape of what is covered, and how it is covered. Money talks. Therein lies the beauty of Twitter. We are all now reporters in that we can be the one to tell others when something happens, and it makes it harder for the media to ignore. You could certainly debate the pros and cons of that, as well. But social media is quite the equalizer. I agree, as well, Jeff. Though another way to look at it, via the power of gatekeeping, is that the media in some ways does create a story by either choosing to report or not on something. Kinda like the tree falling over in the forest. If something happens, and the media chooses not to report on it, in effect, it hasn’t become “news.” Which of course is a shame. Conversely, the media often chooses to report on a lot of things that many of us would consider non-stories. The news media is, afterall, dependent upon ratings/readership to survive, and unfortunately that factor often dictates the shape of what is covered, and how it is covered. Money talks.

Therein lies the beauty of Twitter. We are all now reporters in that we can be the one to tell others when something happens, and it makes it harder for the media to ignore. You could certainly debate the pros and cons of that, as well. But social media is quite the equalizer.

]]> By: Jeff McCloud http://inklingmedia.net/2009/10/more-on-twitter-and-the-news/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Jeff McCloud Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:09:44 +0000 http://inklingmedia.net/?p=655#comment-64 In general, I agree. I do take issue with the "The media creates a story" label. The media wasn't out there with Balloon Boy and his family telling them what to do and conspiring to do anything. But when it all happened, of course, the media was all over the story. The media might create a bigger story out of something -- and for that it needs to take close critique and criticism of how it does its job -- but it is not the genesis of events. In general, I agree. I do take issue with the “The media creates a story” label. The media wasn’t out there with Balloon Boy and his family telling them what to do and conspiring to do anything. But when it all happened, of course, the media was all over the story. The media might create a bigger story out of something — and for that it needs to take close critique and criticism of how it does its job — but it is not the genesis of events.

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