Poynter Online Poynter Online
New UserLogin
Poynter Online Main Page
Poynter Career Center
Design / Graphics
Diversity
Ethics
Leadership
Online
Photojournalism
Writing / Editing
TV / Radio
Journalism & Business Values
About Poynter
Seminars
Faculty
Columns
Resource Center
The Poynter Store

Help Poynter


Create Your Personal Page
Add Your Bio
Add Your Photo
Share Your Favorite Links

Signup for Poynter Newsletters
Get Poynter Delivered to Your PDA

ASNE Online Ethics Tool



E-Media Tidbits
A group weblog by the sharpest minds in online media/journalism/publishing

Add/View All E-Media Tidbits Feedback
More E-Media Tidbits

Friday, March 28, 2008


Posted by Paul Bradshaw 1:30:39 PM
U.K. Government Now On Twitter
downing
Paul Bradshaw
Twitter is a-twitter about the U.K. government stepping into social media.
I'm not the only one to have noticed an unusual surge of people signing up to Twitter lately. But recently, 10 Downing Street started using it. And when the U.K. government signs up to Twitter, you know it's hit the mainstream.

Oh, and where did I hear this? On Twitter.

However, Downing Street isn't really twittering much. Rather, so far their feed mostly offers a kind of Twitter shovelware using Twitterfeed. But that's not bad in itself. Actually, I think it shows a higher level of tech savviness than simply twittering.

Meanwhile, people who want mobile updates on U.K. government matters now have it, which is pretty good. Marshall Manson suggests that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may be the first head of state to use the tool. Meanwhile Luke Pollard adds, "To be fair, both Obama and Clinton are well progressed and twittering a plenty in their fight for the democratic nomination, and arguably have a better Twitter pedigree." Bloggers Blog add some more information about US politicians' use of the tool.

For the record, I was follower no. 38. As of this publication, they now have 221 followers -- and are also following 151 Twitter users. Word's spreading fast.

(More info from Stuart Bruce.)


E-mail this item | Add/View Feedback (2) | QuickLink this item: A140471



E-Media Tidbits Archive
View items published between:   and   
(MM/DD/YYYY) (MM/DD/YYYY)

MAIN | Back to Top




Search Poynter Online
Search Poynter Online

Survey: Americans Say They're Well-Informed, But Dissatisfied With Coverage of Iraq War
Survey: Americans Say They're Well-Informed, But Dissatisfied With Coverage of Iraq War
New On Poynter
Walter Reed Projects
By Ellyn Angelotti

Twitter Crowdsourcing
By Amy Gahran

"Healthy" Menu Test
Al's Wednesday Meeting

Rape Kit Requirements
Al's Wednesday Meeting

Kennedy,Obama&Clinton
Page One Today

Your Elevator Speech
by Jill Geisler

Profit Swoon Update
By Rick Edmonds

Kennedy Resources
By Al Tompkins

Don't Mention Twitter!
By Fons Tuinstra


Resources
Get Tidbits by E-mail (and other Poynter columns)

View All Tidbits Feedback

Pre-11/2002 Archive

Tidbits editor:
Amy Gahran (USA)

Tidbits
Contributors:

Alan Abbey (Israel)
Paul Bradshaw (UK)
Matthew Buckland (S. Africa)
Juan C. Camus (Chile)
Thomas Crampton (Hong Kong)
Michelle Ferrier (USA)
A. Adam Glenn (USA)
Rich Gordon (USA)
Tish Grier (USA)
Barb Iverson (USA)
Steve Klein (USA)
Vincent Maher (S. Africa)
Maryn McKenna (USA)
Joe Michaud (USA)
Bill Mitchell (USA)
Steve Outing (USA)
Kim Pearson (USA)
Ernst Poulsen (Denmark)
Katja Riefler (Germany)
Laura Ruel (USA)
Ken Sands (USA)
Ezra Shapiro (USA)
Maurreen Skowran (USA)
Mac Slocum (USA)
Fons Tuinstra (China)
Monique van Dusseldorp (Netherlands)
Peter M. Zollman (USA)
  Site Map | Advertise | Search | Contact | FAQ | Our Guidelines QuickLink  
  Copyright © 1995-2008 The Poynter Institute
  801 Third Street South | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | Phone (888) 769-6837
  Site developed & hosted by DataGlyphics, Inc.



Poynter Career Center
Wednesday: Is Six Months Too Soon to Quit?
Giving Credit Costs Little