This really should be the last example of why journalists and media-type people need to at least know how to get the best out of Twitter

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Gary Andrews

This is cool. It’s a picture taken by Marcus Warren from The Telegraph of the paper’s newsroom. That thingy on the left-hand screen of Twitterfall, an application that lets you track topics via a cascade in real time. This makes it invaluable for tracking breaking news stories via Twitter.

For a bit more on Twitterfall, and a quick guide to using this excellent application, Paul Bradshaw has more.

Now, regardless of whether you think Twitter is the second coming or view it as a place for trendy media types to hang out, the fact that the Telegraph has a Twitter app on a big screen in their newsroom suggests that they view it as a part of the newsgathering process (as it has been for a while now).

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Twitter bashing. Or, if you will, twashing

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Gary Andrews

There’s a brand new sport in town. It involves shaping a Twitter-shaped stick and bashing the hell out of whatever purpose that stick’s shape is best for.

Sometimes the target of this is Twitter itself and involves beating the stick repeatedly on the ground. Sometimes the Twitter-shaped cudgel is the right shape for giving something else a good thumping. And occasionally the stick turns into a scattergun.

I imagine that if the rules of this sport were ever to be written, they’d probably be quite similar to Brockian Ultra Cricket.

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Weymouth

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Gary Andrews

Given the amount I write about various football clubs, both positive and negative, it’s very rare I’ll use this platform to actively ask people to get involved to help a club. In Weymouth’s case I’ll make an exception.

The Terras aren’t just drinking in the last chance saloon, they’re wiping the ale from around their mouth as they try to work out if they can afford another beer. They may not make the end of the season.

On Saturday, they were forced to field a youth side as they couldn’t pay their insurance for their first team. The kids were thrashed 9-0 at home to Rushden & Diamonds.

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The NUJ and online media

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Gary Andrews

Adam Tinworth’s two posts on the National Union of Journalists and their attitude to blogs and social media in general makes for rather depressing reading.

I’m well aware that this is just one discussion on one blog and isn’t necessarily representative of the whole organisation, but it’s illuminating on the (one) mindset of NUJ.

It all started when Adam’s colleague Martin Couzins wrote an impassioned plea for better online training from the NUJ on his personal blog.

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Ebbsfleet United: An update

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Gary Andrews

This week, the renewals are due for MyFootballClub.co.uk, the fan website that, last year, brought Conference club Ebbsfleet United. The numbers, so far, do not look good for the club.

Over at Soccerlens I crunch through the numbers and try my best to analyse why there’s been such a drop in membership (if my figures are correct, about 20 thousand won’t renew) and also what this means for the club.

It probably won’t be pretty.

When I first heard about MyFC, I was naturally cynical. I’ve spent enough time watching, reading and reporting on football and have seen enough ambitious and often hare-brained schemes collapse.

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Please can somebody make this into a TV programme?

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Gary Andrews

Pride and Prejudice. But with zombies.

zombies

If it’s successful, it could open up a whole series. There are very few classic novels I can think of that wouldn’t be improved by zombies.

(HT: Matthew)

PS If you’ve not guessed, I’m insanely busy at the moment with a few work projects. Sadly no zombies involved. Normal death-of-media-and-Twitter postings should be resumed next week at some point.

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Gary Elsewhere

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Gary Andrews

A week before Big Phil and Tony got their P45s, Garry Wilson celebrated ten years in charge of Eastbourne Borough. During that time he’s taken the club from the Sussex County Leagues (starting at Division 3) to the Conference and is still in with a chance of making the playoffs.

And over at Soccerlens, I’ve done a slightly longer version of the remarkable rise of Eastbourne.

Interestingly, they’ve only had three managers since 1983. Chelsea and Portsmouth may want to take note.

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How to snare me into writing about Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Gary Andrews

Damn those French. Lolly clearly knows I can’t resist the opportunity to make a playlist, so tagged me in a Valentine’s Day playlist meme using the We7 site.

Now, let’s get one thing clear from the start here. I’m not a particularly big fan of Valentine’s Day. Usually I try and ignore it or, failing that, despise it. If I’m feeling particularly perky, I’ll head out and play singleton’s bingo.

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Journalists of the future

Posted on February 8, 2009 by Gary Andrews

“Mate,” said my colleague Ben, when I told him about being invited back to the old student paper I edited to do a talk on the future of journalism and how to get into in. “You know you’ve made it when your old university invites you back.”

“Chances are everybody else was busy,” said I. “And I’m cheap.”

It was an unexpectedly enjoyable surprise to find myself back at Cardiff University Students’ Union on a Saturday afternoon to speak to the section editors and writers of gair rhydd. It was also interesting from my own point of view, as I learned a few bits and pieces as well.

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Getting social with Nathan Barley

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Gary Andrews

Bobbie Johnson from the Guardian has had it with social media. It’s easy to sympathise.

“Listen. I have blog. I use Twitter. I idly flick through lists of people I’d forgotten I ever knew on Facebook. I’ve even got a MySpace page, although I don’t like to talk about it. They are great ways of connecting people, and they’re very exciting when you start using them, because they allow virtual contact in ways that are analogous to – if not the same as – real life. You know, communicate with people. That old thing.

…

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