media update’s Nikita Geldenhuys asked Bateman and De Wet what the secret is to their respective 424 000 and 34 700 Twitter followings.

The way the world uses Twitter has changed in the last few years. Thousands of brands, trolls, and bots now use Twitter to spread their message. Even politicians like the president of the United States use the platform to build their voter base – sometimes through misleading information and inflammatory comments.

In this new age of Twitter, journalists have to up their game to break through the noise. 

Four tips for tweeting in the new world of Twitter:

1. Write compelling tweets – not chatter

There seems to be more ‘noise’ on Twitter than a mere two years ago when media update published its basic guide to live tweeting. It’s for this reason that De Wet, who was a writer and journalist before becoming an editor, nowadays only tweets when he’s sure it’s warranted. He says this means tweeting “either because of public interest or because the public is interested”.

“I'll help to distribute ideas or viewpoints I find particularly compelling or helpful. But, mostly, I try not to get caught up in endless, meaningless chatter,” he says.

Bateman doesn’t limit himself with the amount of times he tweets per event, but he makes sure every tweet is relevant.

2. Remember that the same journalistic rules apply

Bateman reminds journalists: “The first rule of Twitter journalism: don’t say anything on Twitter you wouldn’t say on air or in the pages of a publication.”

“When on-air or filing a story, we are guided by the principles of good journalism. The same must apply when tweeting.”

But this doesn’t mean the journalist can’t offer an opinion, he says. His advice? Refer to the Press Code for what constitutes fair comment. 

In short: “Rather be last and accurate, than first and wrong.”

3. Practise and explore

Establishing your credible voice on Twitter takes work and repetition – but it also means you have to be innovative and explore new formats.

“Including tweeting as part of your job description adds pressure,” says Bateman. “It’s another aspect you have to manage in the journalism process. You have to listen, take notes and time codes, if you’re recording, and still tweet – and do so accurately and coherently.”

Do this every day and on every story until it comes naturally, is his advice.

De Wet uses a variety of content formats on his Twitter account, from shared links to photos of important documents or replying to his own tweet. He says he tweets photos to convey evidence, “be it a document excerpt or to show the size of a crowd” and uses threads to develop ideas or convey information in a longer format.

4. Listen and answer

For Bateman, Twitter is a platform to engage and provide context to his news coverage. For this reason, he’s always willing to answer questions on a matter he’s covering.

“Engage with your followers. Answer their questions. The more active you are, the more followers you’ll attract.”

Listening can also lead to new stories, Washington & Lee University’s Swasy explains.

She uses the example of David Fahrenthold: “Consider the Washington Post’s coverage of Trump’s charitable donations. Reporter David Fahrenthold recently shared his experience in two Post articles. He contacted more than 300 charities. A reader tipped him off to the oil painting of the candidate, which Trump purchased with his foundation’s money.”

Listening to users on Twitter paid off for Fahrenthold, not only helping him be the first to break the news, but also growing his reach on the social network. His following grew from 4 700 to more than 60 000 and is still growing.

Twitter still has its benefits for journalists

Journalists like Bateman have a dual use for Twitter: live tweeting and providing clarity or context on the news stories he writes. “In the past in radio, the only form of interaction was through the broadcast or calling in to a show when a journalist was being interviewed,” Bateman, who works as a senior reporter for EWN, tells media update.

This direct line between the journalist and audience means Bateman’s listeners are also quick to take to Twitter when they hear inaccuracies. This improves accountability, Bateman says.

Others working in the media industry, like radio presenters and editors, are using Twitter to share their insights on newsworthy developments.

“There is value in having an individual – someone accountable to a profession and an organisation and a code of ethics – behind an account,” says De Wet, associate editor at the Mail & Guardian Online.

This may be where Twitter’s strength currently lies for journalists: in positioning them as credible voices that can speak with authority on topics they cover.

This benefit for the journalist is what Alecia Swasy, the Donald W. Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism at Washington & Lee University, calls ‘social capital’. In an article for The Poynter Institute, she writes: “In journalism, reporters build their social capital by breaking news in their communities.”

“That translates into more readers, which attracts more advertisers, meaning gains in economic capital,” she writes. When used right, Twitter can, therefore, benefit both the journalist doing the tweeting and the news organisations they work for.

Twitter journalism: what to remember

If there are only two things you remember from Bateman and De Wet’s advice, it should be the importance of relevancy and accuracy.

Bateman summarises it this way: “Keep it short – you don’t have you use all 140 characters” and “accuracy trumps speed”.

What does it take to be the social media manager for a news organisation? Read how Karishma Dipa keeps The Star’s social media up to speed in our article, A chat with Karishma Dipa, the social media manager at The Star.