FleetStreetBlues remains divided about Twitter.
On the one hand, it is becoming an increasingly useful, if time-consuming, way to get stories. One of our trade journalist co-correspondents came across a geniune real-life story - as opposed to self-indulgent tech feature - on a Twitter feed yesterday. And the sheer number of users means there has to be someone somewhere saying something important.
On the other hand, it is a colossal waste of time.
But even if it is a useful communication tool to add to the set you already possess - blogs, emails, texting, telephone and, er, meeting people - then this is frankly ridiculous.
Gorkana reports:
The Guardian's technology editor, Charles Arthur has announced he will only receive pitches and PR through his Twitter account due to the large volume of irrelevant emails he receives. Arthur can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/charlesarthur.
We checked out Charles' twitter feed and he's at it non-stop, writing about everything and nothing throughout the day. Constantly.
Part of us is impressed - here is a tech journalist who really practices what he preaches. But part of us is bemused. When does he have time to do anything else? Isn't that kind of stream of consciousness writing draining? Or does he just file 140-character stories?
2 comments:
Since you ask...I also blog, read blogs, write stories (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/charlesarthur), commission pieces, edit the Technology Guardian site, edit the Technology Guardian section, and make phone calls following up stories I've turned up myself. Occasionally I'm on the Tech Weekly podcast. And I run the Free Our Data site and campaign (http://www.freeourdata.org.uk/).
How about you?
Well, he produces this bloody good blog - I know that!
Yeah, but I do wonder what else he does. FSB - reveal yourself? (or not, of course, if you don't fancy it!)
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