That’s why they call it social

I love social media. There. I’ve said it. I think it’s important for my job to figure out what’s here and what’s coming next. While I don’t pretend to be able to figure out the future of journalism, of news, I am confident there will be a social, interactive element.

I don’t love all social media. I really love Twitter. I like Facebook, LinkedIn and all the others. My attraction to the way Twitter works began many years ago when I worked for The Associated Press.

Carol with birds image.

Yes, I love Twitter.

While in charge of the desk/bureau for the day or evening, I would always have an index printer next to me. That printer was how different bureaus communicated with each other. It also spewed out stories on the A-wire (the main news wire), but just the headlines and a few words of each lead. See where I’m going here? For years, I had what was a Twitter-like printer next to me.

Of course, Twitter today has more features that that index printer ever did. I can be connected to people everywhere. I can respond. I can let other people see what I see. For me, a curious newshound with a short attention span, Twitter is familiar. I like the way it can connect me to people I normally might not communicate with, even if it’s only in 140 characters or so.

Am I too connected? Perhaps. I do have times everyday that I turn it off so I can focus on what I need to do. I understand that social media interactions don’t replace or mean the same thing as face-to-face interactions. And I know that what I put out there can be seen by many and won’t go away. I don’t put anything on any social media platform that I wouldn’t want everyone to see. My expectation is that it’s not private.

I like exploring the different tools of social media, though I don’t pretend to keep up with everything. Most of the new tools offer different ways to connect, to build relationships. The basics stay the same:  Be authentic. Be honest. Add value.

 

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