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🐦 Twitter

Known for its brevity and real-time updates, Twitter has become a crucial platform for news, opinions, and conversations. Over the past decade, it has played a significant role in breaking news, organizing movements, and enabling public debates. Journalists have favored Twitter due to its rapid content, extensive user base, and ease of use. However, since Elon Musk acquired the platform in October 2022, its usefulness for journalists has declined. Changes to the promotion algorithm, the introduction of a paid verification system, and Musk's hostility towards certain reporters and news organizations raise concerns about Twitter's future as a viable platform for journalism.

Engagement

Following Musk's takeover, there has been a decline in overall numbers, making it harder to gain traction due to changes in the promotion algorithm. Moreover, the Twitter audience represents only a small portion, increasing the likelihood of being caught in the J-Twitter echo chamber.

• Keep posting published works to Twitter, but invest time into other platforms to hedge your bets.

In Oct. 2022, business magnate Elon Musk officially brought Twitter for $44 billion dollars. Courtesy of CBC.

Branding and networking

While Twitter remains useful for individual journalists, the departure of certain individuals and news organizations diminishes Twitter’s value, and the introduction of pay-to-play verification has made it impossible to verify as easily as before.

• Strengthen Twitter connections with other journalists on other platforms

• Build a more stable presence through an online portfolio or personal website.

  

  With Twitter’s future appearing uncertain, consider building a strong presence on different applications. Courtesy of Engadget.

Sourcing and Story Finding

Remains largely unchanged, depending on whether anyone in your source networks has left the platform.

• Deepen any vulnerable source connections on other platforms or through other means of communication

On Buying Twitter Premium

Twitter Blue provides users with enhanced features and additional benefits for a monthly fee, including blue “verified” checkmarks and algorithm boosting on Tweets. Recently, Twitter introduced Twitter Gold, a premium experience limited to companies and organizations.

Is Twitter Blue worth purchasing?

• Individual Journalists: Consider not buying Twitter Blue
  • For $8/month, the price of being verified and algorithmically boosted isn’t worth it—As any user can buy Twitter Blue, the importance of being verified is watered down and the boost may not be as visible due to the number of Twitter Blue Users
  • Instead, consider having an exit strategy/use different social media platforms
• Organizations: Depends, May consider buying Twitter Gold

  • As Twitter Gold is limited to companies and organizations, the verification of news organizations will stand out, and the algorithm boost will out-boost Twitter Blue users, allowing news organizations to have louder voices.

  • News organizations are currently divided on using Twitter Gold. NPR and PBS have left Twitter whereas

  • With Twitter Gold at $1000/month, it would be a hefty investment.

    

    In Nov. 2022, Twitter introduced Twitter Blue, which added premium features for a monthly cost. Courtesy of Search Engine Journal.

Twitter hasn’t reached a mass breaking point for journalism yet, but it might in the near future. Stay on the platform, but hedge your bets by preserving vulnerable connections and investing more in other platforms.