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Why I Tweet

Posted by: John A. Byrne on November 20

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For an old print guy, I now podcast, blog and tweet—and I can’t believe I’m using these words as verbs. But there you go. It’s a new and far more creative world out there, and I’ve not merely embraced it. Frankly, I love it.

Why? Because I deeply believe that the analog-to-digital transition allows us to practice journalism like never before. It’s not another way to distribute “content” (a word I despise because it diminishes the craft that journalism is). It’s not merely a place for print folks to put up some video and audio. And it’s not simply another medium (it’s so much more than that.) Instead, it’s transformative to what journalism can and should be: a way to deeply engage and collaborate with your audience.

That’s why I really tweet. And blog. And podcast. To get closer to everyone who is informed by the journalism we do, day in and day out. To bring the inside out and the outside in. To learn from those who read, see and hear our work. To understand what they want and what they need. And to learn from the formidable knowledge and experience our audience possesses.

Ultimately, I want our journalism to touch and influence as many people as possible because I believe there is tremendous value in what we do. No less crucial, I also believe that what we do can be vastly improved by real collaboration with you—our audience. By Tweeting, I can ask you what questions I should pose to corporate leaders and government officials. I can see what you’re thinking and what’s important to you—and that knowledge can improve the editorial judgments I make. And, of course, I can simply ask your opinions about our story selection, our design, our upcoming features and projects.

So if you are on Twitter, I invite you into our newsroom via my Tweets. And if you’re not yet on Twitter, where you can find me here, I urge you to join. It’s simple.

Meantime, here’s a sample of my Tweets (and a video explaining why I tweet). When you see an @ symbol before a Tweet, it’s a reply to another Twitter user. Click on their ID and you can follow and share ideas with them, too.

Twitter Updates


    Reader Comments

    Christine Pilch

    November 20, 2008 03:10 PM

    John also responds to Tweets! Mine was one of them. He really wants to engage with others.

    euonymous

    November 20, 2008 05:19 PM

    Well, John, that's great. Do you a business model for how your print media journalism world is going to survive? I used to get Business Week. Now, who needs it? I don't mean to be nasty or rude. My biggest worry is that if the traditional media goes away, 73.5% of the "news" on the net goes away with you. Internet speed is a tough taskmaster in developing that new business model. The Boston Globe is losing people and pages at a rate that is very sad. I like blogs and tweets and podcasts, too, but it isn't my ox being gored.

    BW.com Editor-in-Chief John A. Byrne

    November 20, 2008 08:08 PM

    Thanks Christine and Euonymous for your comments. Damn good question on the future business model for print. It's something I think deeply about every day. What traditional media is going through will lead to radical transformation and ultimately sustainable business models. But there clearly will be continued pain and struggle before we get there--and part of the solution involves engagement and collaboration with the people who consume your journalism.

    Dennis Mooney

    November 21, 2008 12:33 PM

    John- I follow your tweets but another tweeter led me to this blog post so Twitter works. My morning routine consists of coffee, email, checking twitter for news that's relevant to me (from people I follow). I read the Seattle Times later and dont always read my WSJ because I usually have what I need directed to me from Twitter people. The digital revolution is here John as you know. The bad news about the NYT this week confirms it.
    BTW your site could use a mobile version. Check out how Newsweek formats their home page for the iPhone. Far more friendly than BW. @dmooney9

    twitter.com/derekForrest

    November 21, 2008 02:35 PM

    It really is an amazing medium to learn from and engage with people from all around the world.

    BW.com Editor-in-Chief John A. Byrne

    November 21, 2008 03:25 PM

    Dennis, I couldn't agree with you more about our need for a really good mobile app for both iPhone AND the Blackberry. We're working on it, and I'm embarrassed that we don't already have them available.

    Dennis & Derek, Twitter is an amazing way to connect and engage. I find the 140-character limit liberating because it allows you to integrate Twitter into your work day. When I do a blog post, it usually takes as long as half an hour or more. A Tweet can take all of 15 to 30 seconds.

    Camden Watts

    November 21, 2008 03:47 PM

    Thank you for this very succinct endorsement; it will help me share Twitter with folks I wish were using it! Many of them are older, and don't yet see its potential. Your words will help me share its value with others. And I agree with other comments here that it is wonderful to see print media owning social media to adapt well.

    Tracy

    November 25, 2008 01:32 PM

    I'm really enjoying following you on Twitter even though I'm probably not the usual demographic for your magazine. I think that Twitter has the potential to enlarge the audience for savvy media outlets - although I'm not sure how it will bring in revenue to continue paying the reporters, et al.

    Esteban

    June 7, 2009 12:34 PM

    You're awesome John!

    A few reasons why people tweet:

    Why I / You / We Tweet http://bit.ly/iyouwe

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