Adrian Short: Building a local news mashup

‘Twinterview’ with @RuthBarnett – Sky News’ new Twitter correspondent

March 20th, 2009 | 4 Comments | Posted by Judith Townend in Broadcasting, Events, Social media and blogging

From 9.30am (GMT) @journalism_live will be interviewing @RuthBarnett, Twitter correspondent for Sky News, about her new job. Follow the conversation here, and please drop in your own questions with the tag #SkyRB. After 30 minutes answering questions from @journalism_live she will answer the questions from the ‘audience’.

Update: and here’s how it went. The live updated stream has now been replaced by the conversation that took place (slight changes for ease of reading):

journalism_live: @ruthbarnett to be interviewed via Twitter and @journalism_live shortly…

RuthBarnett: #skyRB Hi I’m here and ready to go!

journalism_live: Morning @ruthbarnett! Thanks for finding time in your Twitter day. Followers – please tag yr Qs #SkyRB and she’ll take them after 30 mins

journalism_live: @ruthbarnett Firstly: You’re ‘really’ a Twitter correspondent for Sky News: is that the actual job title on the business card?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live I still have my old business cards which say multimedia producer! But it would be cool to get Twitter ones.

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett so what does yr day involve? You must do other stuff, as well as scan Twitter all day?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live Yup I look for stories, write things up for skynews.com, live tweet from events eg Google launch, do some TV

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett How did it get suggested? Was it your idea?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live Its really the brainchild of news ed @jongrip but it followed conversations we’d had about Twitter, new media etc

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett There’s been a lot of online attention about yr appt: do people ‘get’ what you’re doing?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live I think most people do. Its about being part of the conversation – listening and responding. Coverage was a shock!

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett yes, you’re enjoying Twitter fame! so, how’s the first week gone: what have you done?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live I’ve made my first two TV appearances, written stories for online, let followers give their views on stories + more

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett not bad! any really good scoops sourced via Twitter yet?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live We were v quick off the mark on the London fire and pix. Also people have been in touch about their real lives

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett Interesting – how does it shift dynamics of your relationship with users and viewers?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live eg this story today www.tinyurl.com/tillygeorge came from a tweet.

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live I hope it makes us easier to approach, you can give feedback to us v quickly, its a genuine interaction.

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett There’s so much noise on Twitter – are you able to filter out the bad stuff and find the gems?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live Yeah I hope so. And people are quick to let me know if they think I’ve missed something which is useful!

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett well we cd go on but we’ll open to the floor…. Any questions for the professional Twitterer?

journalism_live: @ruthbarnett maybe start with a Q from @1DimensionalMan: What do you think of the idea of a premium version of Twitter? Its impact?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live I thought that had been outed as a hoax this week? I may be wrong. I’m not sure it would work to be honest

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live It would change the way the community worked and perhaps people would move to another service? What do you think?

journalismnews: @ruthbarnett is now taking questions from the Twitter masses: what do you want to ask about Sky News use of Twitter?

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live @PoppyVix asked if I also look for stories as well as tweet. Yes – from breaking news to interesting quirky stories

hfitz: @journalism_live What do you think of PR people using Twitter? Is it intrusive or do you encourage it?

RuthBarnett: @hfitz If they do it in an open way it can be useful. But people will unfollow if they just push their product, no?

NewspaperWorld: @ruthbarnett has there been an increase in readers accessing sky news since twitter?

RuthBarnett: @NewspaperWorld Too early for me to comment on that but I believe we are reaching out to new readers which is great.

Partois: @ruthbarnett Twitter still appears to be a North American fad. Can it really take off in Europe?

RuthBarnett: @Partois Its true many users seem to be from the US but anecdotally I think its really growing in the UK

makemusicnotwar: @ruthbarnett Some say you dnt need a “twitter correspondent”. Shouldn’t all skynews journos just use twitter to hunt for stories etc?

RuthBarnett: @makemusicnotwar Colleagues do! But useful to have one point of contact & give that person time to invest in it

RuthBarnett: Any more questions you’d like to ask? Thanks for all sent so far, interesting to hear what you’re curious about #skyRB

GoooRooo: @ruthbarnett if I @ you can you sort out my rubbish Sky customer service?

RuthBarnett: @GoooRooo Don’t think so I’m afraid. Surprised to hear that as I’ve always had a good experience and fast response

NewspaperWorld: @ruthbarnett could you further explain the benefits of having one twitter correspondent instead of many journalists on twit?

RuthBarnett: @NewspaperWorld Sure. Helps you know who to contact. Means we one person delve deeper, devote more time, + interact

NewspaperWorld: @ruthbarnett Thanks. What do you think of interviews on twitter? effective?

RuthBarnett: @NewspaperWorld Yes because its quick and simple and reaches more people. It’s been an interesting experience.

makemusicnotwar: @RuthBarnett Has having a journo devoted to twitter paid off? Hav u found stories, involved users & done things your colleagues cudnt?

RuthBarnett: @makemusicnotwar Yes I hope so. But I’m only five days in! Will always listen to how I can do better.

makemusicnotwar: @RuthBarnett Thanks. It’s been very interesting to hear from you. I will be following your progress with great interest.

RuthBarnett: @journalism_live Thanks Jude at Journalism.co.uk for hosting today.

journalism_live: @RuthBarnett our pleasure! Thanks for your time. Happy Tweeting and speak again soon…

Tags: correspondent, Europe, google, Journalism.co.uk, London, media etc, multimedia producer, online attention, Ruth Barnett, Sky News, Twitter, Twitter correspondent, United Kingdom, United States, www.tinyurl.com/tillygeorge

The Register: Wikileaks blocked by Australian firewall

March 20th, 2009 | 2 Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Editors' pick, Press freedom and ethics

Wikileaks, the leaked document-sharing site, has been blocked by a firewall in Australia following publication of a list of websites banned by the Dutch government.

According to this report, sites in the country found linking to the list could be fined A$11,000.

Full story at this link…

Tags: AUD, Australia, Dutch government, firewall, leaked document-sharing site, Wikileaks

Huffington Post: Gannett execs net nearly $2 million in bonuses

March 20th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Editors' pick, Job losses

As Gannett’s US and UK staff at Newsquest prepare to take a week’s unpaid leave, executives at the parent company have been asked to justify bonuses of nearly $2 million in a statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to the HuffPo report, CEO Craig Dubow will receive $875,000, while four other executives will pocket $300,000, $270,000, $245,000, and $260,000.

Full story at this link…

Tags: CEO, Craig Dubow, Gannett, Huffington Post, Newsquest, Securities and Exchange Commission, United Kingdom, United States, unpaid leave, USD

MediaGuardian: Further integration as FT reporters asked to sub-edit

March 20th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Editors' pick, Jobs, Journalism

As part of a scheme called Newsroom 2009, Financial Times reporters will be responsible for sub-editing parts of their own stories, adding hyperlinks and writing draft headlines.

Full story at this link…

Tags: Financial Times, ft, sub-editing

#collegejourn coming to Europe

March 19th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Events

Following sucess on the other side of the Atlantic, online discussion #collegejourn, which brings together students and journalism academics for debate under a common hashtag, is coming to Europe.

To participate in the inaugural Collegejourn Europe discussion, drop into Meebo.com at the altogether more Euro-friendly time of 8pm (GMT) on Sunday (March 22).

If you want to get the ball rolling before the debate, send any topic suggestions towards the #collegejourn hashtag on Twitter or to Josh directly.

(via the University of Sunderland’s Journalism & PR blog)

Tags: #collegejourn, Europe, online discussion #collegejourn, Twitter, University of Sunderland, University of Sunderland's Journalism

Video: The role of blogging in the BBC

March 19th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Broadcasting, Social media and blogging

As the BBC makes some style changes to its blog format, deputy director of BBC News, Stephen Mitchell, discusses the role of blogs at the BBC on Newswatch:

Tags: BBC, blogging, blogs, deputy director, newswatch, Stephen Mitchell

CMS2009: @DigitalBritain on Twitter but you won’t find @LordCarter

March 19th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Judith Townend in Events, Online Journalism, Social media and blogging

As MediaGuardian’s MediaMonkey has already noted and @journalism_live tweeted, the UK minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, Lord Carter, does not Twitter, and he has ‘no real desire’ to be on Twitter.

“I couldn’t compete,” he says – apparently in reference to the Guardian management addicted to the service (@arusbridger is also on Twitter these days, by the way).

So Lord Carter may not be, but @digitalbritain is on board, if you fancy following the UK government’s digital team.

Perhaps more controversial were Lord Carter’s comments about the importance of UK media, which didn’t make the next session’s panel host, Janneke Niessen, (the Dutch) co-founder of Improve Digital, too happy.

UK content is very different from that of other countries, Carter had said. “English media spreads,” Carter said.

He said that UK media output spreads more widely and crosses boundaries in different ways from the content of other countries – for example, from the Netherlands and Italy.

That’s a result of the widespread and global use of the English language, he was quick to add, sensing the sharp sucking in of breath around the room.

Tags: cms2009, co-founder, digital britain, Improve Digital, Italy, Janneke Niesson, lord carter, media spreads, MediaGuardian Changing Media Summit 2009, minister, So Lord Carter, The Guardian, The Netherlands, Twitter, UK government, United Kingdom

Friday 9.30am GMT: ‘Twinterview’ with @RuthBarnett, Sky’s new Twitter correspondent

March 19th, 2009 | 1 Comment | Posted by Judith Townend in Broadcasting, Events, Social media and blogging

Ruth Barnett has caused a bit of a stir in online news with her new job: as Sky News’s Twitter correspondent.

Using her Twitter account, @RuthBarnett, Barnett sources news stories on Twitter and feeds them back to the Sky News team.

Tomorrow, Journalism.co.uk will interview @RuthBarnett via @journalism_live, our event and live-interviewing Twitter account. From 9.30 am – 10.30 am she will answer questions using the hashtag #SkyRB.

It will be the end of her first week in the role and she’ll be telling us all about her new job: why, how and what.

Please pitch in with your own questions via Twitter, labelling them #SkyRB and she will answer them after the first 30 minutes of the interview with @journalism_live.

We’ll also be streaming the conversation here on the blog.

Tags: correspondent, Journalism.co.uk, online news, Ruth Barnett, Sky News, the Sky News, Twitter, Twitter correspondent

Silicon Alley Insider: Time Inc to start experiment with paid-for content

March 19th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Editors' pick, Journalism

Time Inc, publisher of SI.com, Time.com and CNNMoney.com, is to start experimenting with a mixture of paid-for and free content access on sections of its sites over the next eight months.

Full post at this link…

Tags: business models, paid for, silicon alley insider, Time Inc