Arizona State business journalism chair Tim McGuire takes on the view that Twitter is taking the craft down the wrong road. His latest post recognizes that Twitter, like all instant information services, can skimp on the discipline of verification.
But he also notes that journalists have wanted exactly a tool like Twitter forever. "Twitter is a wonderful tool which, like any tool, can be used or abused," he notes.
Now that journalists have it, they simply have to learn how to use it properly.
"What is crucial is that all the things journalists know about truth, accuracy, checking out stories, sources, facts and context remain sacred. Just because there is now a tool that allows us to regurgitate everything we hear when we hear it does not mean that’s good journalism," he writes.
But he also notes that journalists have wanted exactly a tool like Twitter forever. "Twitter is a wonderful tool which, like any tool, can be used or abused," he notes.
Now that journalists have it, they simply have to learn how to use it properly.
"What is crucial is that all the things journalists know about truth, accuracy, checking out stories, sources, facts and context remain sacred. Just because there is now a tool that allows us to regurgitate everything we hear when we hear it does not mean that’s good journalism," he writes.
