BBC social media editor turns to Twitter to defend new social media policy
Just a day after Sky News rocked the Twitterverse by announcing much more stringent social media guidelines, BBC News came out and said its reporters could no longer tweet breaking news.
Or did they? Just a few hours after publishing a blog post on the news organization’s new policy, Chris Hamilton, social media editor for BBC News, turned to Twitter to defend it.
“We’re not saying BBC journalists can’t break stories on Twitter,” he tweeted almost half a dozen times to various reporters.
Here’s the series of tweets:
Wrong to say BBC journalists told not to break stories on Twitter. Read original post bbc.co.uk/blogs/theedito… or here guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb…
— Chris Hamilton (@chrishams) February 8, 2012
It’s about the best way of breaking news on all our platforms - social networks, our own website, TV, radio.
— Chris Hamilton (@chrishams) February 8, 2012
Essential point is we have system that allows journalists to file and tweet at the same time.
— Chris Hamilton (@chrishams) February 8, 2012
Where that system inaccessible, they’re asked to file first. Difference of a few seconds?
— Chris Hamilton (@chrishams) February 8, 2012
In any case, is *current* guidance, not tablets of stone. Will evolve.
— Chris Hamilton (@chrishams) February 8, 2012
What do you think of Hamilton going on Twitter to back up what many think is a harsh new social media policy at the BBC?
— EZ
