TWS: Twitter Wire Service

CNS? AP? CNN? Forget them all. Everything a producer could ever want or need from a wire service is now free, fast and even hip! Today, I'm introducing TWS: the Twitter Wire Service.

Well, I should disclose that I never came up with the Twitter Wire Service, nor is there really anything called the TWS, but that's beside the point. Twitter has become my go-to means for staying on top of developing stories while in the newsroom. Tweets break faster, spread quicker and reach more people than a wire service currently can, simply because they bring together countless wire-service accounts that come straight from wire services. It’s as if I am in control of a totally customizable, personalized news stream. When I want to know what the developing aspects of a story are, I find myself using a Twitter hashtag search before I do a wires search.

Nowhere is the value of Twitter more clearly showcased than in the world of sports news. Twitter captured this industry early as a means to live-blog sporting events. That affinity for the social media outlet led to widespread Twitter usage in sport media coverage. Nearly every anchor, columnist, pundit or personality has a twitter handle and in the past several days almost all of those accounts have been buzzing with coverage of the Penn State scandal. Therefore, when big news swept across the country that Joe Paterno was retiring, I didn’t turn to the wires, I turned to Twitter (somebody should trademark that slogan). It kept me updated and informed on the latest developments, and let me help our reporter to find the best angles and details to add to her package. So when in doubt: Turn to Twitter.

Despite the ease of use, it's important to realize that Twitter – for now – acts only as a way to follow the news, rather than a way to get sourcing or reporting. In the future, I could improve my use of social media by using our Facebook and Twitter accounts to find interviews from people who we would otherwise never be able to find. Nonetheless, I find that social media plays a vital role in my ability to stay on top of the news.