That’s right, more UK media people share their Twitter tips. This time: Lee Hall, digital editor of the Sunderland Echo.
Do you recall your first tweet?
I don’t. As with most first time encounters I messed it up a bit, wasn’t too sure whether I was any good at it and came back to it when my confidence returned. Seriously, though – initially I found there was too much dead air as take up was low. I’m guessing it was my trademark social media bow – something like. “Erm, I’m trying this out because I heard it was quite good…”
How has your use of Twitter changed?
Significantly. I began under an @SunderlandEcho account, tweeting breaking news for the newspaper I work for. But as take up grew, more and more friends came online and I found myself catching up with old mates. As a result I quickly split my personality into professional Lee at my original address, and personal Lee @LeeHallTweets. It’s a balance I’ve broadly stuck to, and one which reflects my split professional personality between my day job at a local newspaper and my freelance work.
What do you want from Twitter?
To stay in touch with friends and colleagues without having to ignore 467 invitations to play Mafia Wars on Facebook. And to stay connected with sources of news and info, plus trending topics in the real world outside my office. RT back links to sunderlandecho.com help too!
Have you attended a tweetup?
Nope. It would bring back too many bad memories of school discos. I’d be left standing in the corner looking miserable with bad hair. Much better to hide behind the internet and pretend I have a personality, rather than disappointing people in real life.
Have you evangelised Twitter?
Yes. I’m always shouting at people about personal brand – trying to encourage reporters to build a following that they can take with them wherever they go. Some of them listen. Some of them just go for lunch and pretend they can’t hear me.
Do you have any self-imposed policies regarding your use of Twitter?
I have a horrible habit of tweeting when I’m bored – especially when I’m on a train journey. I try to limit myself to one tweet per hour on a train, but that’s tricky.
How do you see your use of Twitter developing this year?
I must harness it’s power as a crowd-sourcing tool. A colleague has several thousand followers and he is never short of material for his column in-paper!
[+] Lee Hall can be found on Twitter at @LeeHallTweets
Tags: journalism, social media, twitter
