Another Q&A with a media professional making terrific use of Twitter. This time: Dave Lee, co-editor of the BBC Internet Blog. Dave also writes about technology, media and sport.
* Do you recall your first tweet?
Ha – I started how I meant to go on: “Ready for some pub action with Naomi! Bring it on” was my first tweet.
* How did you use Twitter to begin with?
I dabbled with general chit-chat. I was a student when I first started using it – and so I leapt at the chance to connect with potential employers.
* How has your use of Twitter changed?
I’m becoming more and more conscious that my tweets can have influence in certain areas. Given who I work for, I have to run my own internal legal check now. With over 1,500 followers, I think it’s important I keep tabs on my own social media presence.
* What do you want from Twitter?
Absolutely nothing – I don’t expect anything from it.
* Have you attended a tweetup?
Not formally, no. Although I have met people who I’ve met via Twitter – so I guess that sorta counts.
* Have you evangelised Twitter? If so, any success?
I think so. I’m not sure how much influence my evangelising has had, but I spent a little while singing the praises of Twitter to Sky News reporter Julia Reid while I was on work experience. This week [some time ago - my fault, GH] she’s been live tweeting from the Fritzl trial. At the BBC, I regularly engage in discussions about the Corp’s role on Twitter – as well as a little side project I’m working on with a colleague.
* Do you have any self-imposed policies regarding your use of Twitter?
I don’t follow people back automatically – there are too many. But I have set my replies feed to show all @davelee replies, so if someone talks to me I still get what they’re saying. Quite often I’ll follow someone once I’ve had at least a little piece of discourse with them.
* How do you see your use of Twitter developing this year?
No idea. After getting a taste of some live-tweeting earlier this month, I’d like to give that another go. But I’ve seen some twinterviews and so forth and I’m not a fan – I think I’d come to regret not conducting a ‘proper’ (sorry) interview with that person.
[+] Dave Lee is the co-editor of the BBC Internet Blog. More about Dave at daveleejblog.com.
Tags: journalism, social media, twitter
