In previous centuries, reporters used to send pigeons from the trenches to convey urgent news. The death of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, however, broke in seconds globally via a single tweet. Recognising its potential as a news tool, Twitter has revealed new resources for the news media.
The social media giant has created a new toolbox for journalists called Twitter for Newsrooms or #TfN which it says will make it easier for journalists to focus on their job of finding sources, verifying facts, publishing stories and promoting their work faster and faster.
“We know you come from different generations,” Twitter said. “Some are native to the pilcrow, others native to the hashtag.
“You began your careers in different media: radio, print, broadcast, online and mobile. But you share a common bond: the desire to make a difference in the world, bringing reliable information to the communities you serve.
“While this group is diverse, we think Twitter and #TfN can be a kind of common ground – and we know Twitter is a tool all journalists can use to find sources faster, tell stories better, and build a bigger audience for their work,” it said.
Tips and tools
The #TfN page consists of various tips, such as search strategies, finding sources, mobile tips and other useful advice on effective tweeting and branding.
It also includes a toolkit called Web Intents, which allows users to take action on tweets.
Users of WordPress can also access a BlackBird Pie plugin that enables them to embed Tweets along with their actions into a post.
The new site also contains links to various Twitter blogs, ecosystem partners, trending tools and curation engines.
