As Twitchy told you yesterday, Kirsten Powers managed to paint the MSM as the real victims of their colossal Covington eff-up. After getting called out on that bullsh*t, she cut and ran, informing her Twitter followers that she was deleting the Twitter app.
Things like that have really gotten Brian Stelter to thinking: “Is it time for journalists to sign off Twitter?” Stelter writes:
Sometimes the insanity on Twitter makes my brain hurt. Sometimes the hatred makes my heart ache. But I almost never think about leaving. Until now.
Farhad Manjoo published an NYT column on Wednesday titled “Never Tweet.” He said “it’s time we journalists all considered disengaging from the daily rhythms of Twitter, the world’s most damaging social network. You don’t have to quit totally — that’s impossible in today’s news business. Instead, post less, lurk more.”
…
I’m not saying everyone should delete their accounts. I’m definitely not saying newsroom bosses should stop reporters from tweeting. I love Twitter and I know that both my personal and professional lives have benefited from it. (I met my wife on Twitter!) But the site has changed. It is now, as Manjoo said, “the epicenter of a nonstop information war, an almost comically undermanaged gladiatorial arena where activists and disinformation artists and politicians and marketers gather to target and influence the wider media world.” This is a big problem. It requires a big change.
But don’t expect Stelter to pack it in just yet. Because, you see, according to him, there are still a lot of people out there who need journalists to stick around. People like this “longtime tech exec”:
A longtime tech exec emailed me: "You guys are the lifeblood of Twitter right now. A huge part of Twitter's current value is journalists creating content for the site." https://t.co/Bbv8qM2gKv
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 24, 2019
Wow.
Please clap https://t.co/aOKkhCB9jK
— Mellific (@Mel_lific) January 24, 2019
*insert sure jan gif* https://t.co/RupxakJGJQ
— Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock aka Kimberly (@conkc2) January 24, 2019
Was this tech exec also 8-years-old and a TSA worker? https://t.co/muM2p8koUW
— Boomieleaks (@notwokieleaks) January 24, 2019
Even if we give Stelter the benefit of the doubt here (not that he deserves it), we’re not where to begin with his tweet. How about here?
Really????????????? Well the word "creating" does seem to apply.
— John (@jake112k) January 24, 2019
"…creating content for the site." Not being factual in your reporting. Creating content.
— Charles Dunkley (@cedunkley) January 24, 2019
"Creating content" being the operative words.
— Julia (@jaetimestwo) January 24, 2019
'Creating content' with heavy emphasis on 'creating.'
— NoOneOfConsequence (@StarDogCh4mpion) January 24, 2019
"Creating content." Yep, Not reporting the news. But yeah, great anecdote. Your work is now validated. #RIPJournalism
— Conservative Virginia (@OldDominionPost) January 24, 2019
"Creating content" like the harassment campaign against those teenagers for wearing the wrong hats.
— Krizzと (@konkarrne) January 24, 2019
Do you know any journalists who can contribute factual content?
— Tim Henry (@melaexec) January 24, 2019
They’re probably all too busy being the stunning and brave lifeblood of Twitter.
"You are brave and important," a smart person told me
— … (@jtLOL) January 24, 2019
A longtime swimsuit supermodel emailed me: "oooh Dahveeed, you are sexy sexy tweety man, please not to leave the tweeters and take away our sexy happy"https://t.co/P35MwtdiT4
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 24, 2019
Then everyone in line started to applaud and the barista smiled and said, “Thank you friend, you’re truly a hero.” He gave me free coffee for life, a high five and a crisp, new hundred dollar bill. It was a good day.
— Therm Scissorpunch (@steel_toe777) January 24, 2019
It’s truly impressive that even standing in the middle of a burning building, journos like Stelter can still see well enough to do so much navel gazing.
Boy nobody likes “tooting their own horn” like the media.
Guys this big important person told me that we are amazing and I just couldn’t wait to share it!
— that guy matt (@ShoeInTheBox) January 24, 2019
"Journalists are amazing, I wish everyone was amazing like you journalists," a very important person told me – a journalist who is very serious, unlike Donald Trump, who is silly https://t.co/Uqdu6Cf4a6
— Jason Hart (@jasonahart) January 24, 2019
That’s pretty much where journalists are at right now.
I actually laughed out loud at this.
— Chris Hynes (@realchrishynes) January 24, 2019
You clowns have severely misjudged your worth. https://t.co/MWm2qFTS3F
— JWF (@JammieWF) January 24, 2019
Twitter nobodies expose a massive liar and prove the spin the media tried to sell was a lie. Today journos talk of leaving twitter. Not shocking.
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) January 24, 2019
Maybe they should try it. You know, in the interest of content creation. They can think of it as a journalistic thought experiment.
Then delete your accounts, see what happens. https://t.co/tpgZQZ8XRs
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) January 24, 2019
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