The INDsider -> Mary Tutwiler THU, OCT 29 8:36AM by Mary Tutwiler

What Twitter is good for and other thoughts on social networking

The future of journalism and the exchange of information via social networking are a topic journalists talk about every day. In this age of a barrage of instant news overwhelming Internet users, it’s hard to find one’s place as a news source on the Web. Josh Benton, Rayne native, presidential scholar, former reporter for the Dallas Morning News and director of the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University, talks to Duke University’s Sally Hicks in an interview in Faith and Leadership, Duke’s Divinity School journal.

Benton’s conclusion — make it new:

You have to give that new organization permission to destroy the old organization. You can’t have that new organization thinking, “Oh, this is what is smart, but we can’t do it because it wouldn’t be good for the parent organization.” You have to give them permission to completely innovate and approach things in a new way.

and make it remarkable:

the key is to produce things that are remarkable, because if something is remarkable then people will want to remark upon it to their friends and colleagues. Create content that begs to be spread around in a social media context, the kinds of things that people are going to say, “Wow, this is great,” and share it with their friends on Facebook or retweet on Twitter.

Now the only problem is to figure out how to make the wild and free Web profitable. Any thoughts out there? Feel free to comment, Facebook it, and tweet away.

Articles by this Author:

View all articles by this author

Comments (3)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by Plumpy , October 29, 2009 - 07:28 pm

Twitter reminds me of living in a small town. When you fart, everybody want's to stick their nose in it..I'm not into twitter and think its a waste of time...just like i'm doing here..wasting my time..

...
written by tlc , October 29, 2009 - 09:49 pm

i tried twitter--didn't care for it. I don't really see the point it. It may be a better tool for business not personal networking. I've been on facebook for two years, and although I became addicted to it at once, it's starting to fade.. I mean after you reconnect with all the folks that you DIDN't talk to in high school, what's left?

...
written by Cajunhiker , October 30, 2009 - 02:02 am

Don't care for Facebook. Like Twitter because its quick, interactive, has few if any teenagers on it, full of useful and useless information, and has a bunch of witty tweeple on it.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in using your Facebook account or register if you do not have an account yet.

Most Read

David Calhoun, ‘EB’ Brooks join Lafayette Central Park

David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Lafayette’s ‘sinking ship’ is cash flow positive

“We’ve crossed that magic threshold,” LUS Director Terry Huval says.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.