BBC mandates staff to use social media tools
February 11th, 2010
In contradiction to many organisations (who ban the use) the BBC are telling staff to keep up with technology and start using social media as a primary source of information – or leave!
The new Director of Global News was interviewed by the BBC’s in-house magazine and was quoted as saying journalists were not doing their job if the could not use social media tools.
He also said change was inevitable and if people did not like it they should do something else.
Source: Guardian Digital Content blog
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great article,but i have some trouble in understanding the final paragraph, can you please explain a little bit more?
thanks for that
@Chevarie – my last comment was relating to the fact that BBC News management are in effect saying that social media experience and active participation by BBC journalists are necessary for them to do their job properly. Just like journalist in the past were expected to have shorthand note taking skills so they are now expected to be able to understand and use social media. News organisations have understood that in many cases ‘breaking news’ happens via eye witness reports. In some cases it is impossible for news crews to get to the location. Haiti was a recent example. Social media was a key communicaton tool. Journalists can still use traditional sources but with somany people using social media it is a valuable source too. I hope that helps explain my last comment.