Any would-be journalists hoping to find employment with Northcliffe title the Essex Chronicle have been challenged to sell themselves in 140 characters or less and apply via Twitter.
Editorial director Alan Geere, told Press Gazette: "They've got 140 characters to tell me what they can do and why I should consider them."
Geere believes using Twitter will discourage applicants from the usual waffle which fills covering letters and CVs. He can be found on Twitter at @alangeere.
It's unclear whether Geere is simply trying to lessen the load upon his inbox, or ensure a culture of Tweeting upon his workforce. But either way, he isn't the first to challenge journalists to better understand the role of Twitter. (See: Media must sharpen social skills, May 2011).
Also, last week the BBC's Kevin Backhurst, deputy head of the BBC newsroom, clearly outlined his thoughts on the effect of Twitter on 'traditional' media.
Ah, journalists and their twitter accounts.
I maintain there's nothing worse than a journalist who gets all their "news" from Twitter. Reference: every single showbiz columnist who has ever written a story about Lily Allen etc.
If it's been said on the PR stream that is a celebrity Twitter account...sorry journos, it ain't exclusive news.
Posted by: J | Sep 12, 2011 at 14:50