Newspaper & Mailroom

Twitter and Newspapers: Not That Different?

Tuesday 27. May 2014 - Despite its position as a social media giant, Twitter has much in common with local newspapers, says Joanna Geary, the company's head of news partnerships in the United Kingdom, who will take part in the discussions at the upcoming World Newspaper Congress, to be held in Torino, Italy, from 9 to 11 June next.

“Newspapers, particularly local newspapers, have had a long tradition of representing and standing for their readers – this attitude is one that translates well to Twitter,” she said. “Newspapers and print journalists that really do well are those that engage genuinely and authentically on Twitter.”
“It’s very much just like every aspect of news gathering – people have to trust you if you want them to tell you their stories. Engaging on Twitter can be a great way of doing that,” she told World News Publishing Focus, the magazine of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
A recent survey carried out in the UK by Twitter and Newsworks showed that a majority of the country’s 15 million users follow newspaper brands and believe news on Twitter should be verified by a respected newsbrand. Add the multitude of ways Twitter can contribute to reporting, and the value of Twitter to the news business is apparent.
The World Newspaper Congress session on “The Game Changers”, where Ms Geary will speak, will also feature US-based media analyst Ken Doctor, Kinsey Wilson, Executive Vice President of National Public Radio in the United States, Eugen Russ, Managing Director and Owner of Russmedia in Austria, and Gilles Raymond, CEO of Mobiles Republic in the United States.
More than 1,000 publishers, chief editors, managing directors, CEOs and other senior newspaper and news publishing executives are expected in Torino for the 66th World Newspaper Congress, 21st World Editors Forum and the 24th World Advertising Forum, the global summit meetings of the world’s press organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).  The events will offer more than 100 speakers, social and networking events, exhibitions and much more.