To help journalists to get the most out of the social network, Twitter on Monday 27 June, 2011, announced the launch of a guide called “Twitter for Newsrooms”.

The information portal offers a number of sections relating to various journalistic tasks: reporting, engaging, publishing and a section called “extra”, explains the Future of Media website.

1. Under the Reporting section, journalists learn about using search to its fullest potential.
2. Under the Engage section, users can learn how to use Twitter to connect with audiences, share news and build community.
3. In the Publish section, journalists are given tips on everything from a toolkit called Web Intents, to a WordPress plugin for Twitter, to official display guidelines on using tweets in media, and an image gallery of Twitter logos.
4. In the Extra section, Twitter provides links to blogs, support/help items, DMCA issues and Twitter in other languages.

The Twitter guide comes along soon after the launch of competing services Facebook for journalists and Linkedin for journalists, notes the International Journalists Network website.

Nieman Lab writes that the guide, also known as #TfN, was developed by the Twitter Media team and aims to be a one-stop shop, from learning the basics up to more advanced ways of using the network in journalism. Nieman Lab adds that “by offering itself up as a resource for reporters to engage with their audience, Twitter is also signaling it wants to get a little closer with journalists, who’ve collectively been one of the platform’s biggest promoters.”

Sources: Scribbal, Future of Media, International Journalists Network, Nieman Lab

Published: June 28, 2011