By Tim Beyers
For the past six weeks, freelance features writer Lydia Dishman (@LydiaBreakfast) and I (@milehighfool) have hosted #editorchat Wednesday evenings from 8-9:30 p.m. EST on Twitter.
Think of it as a real-time writer’s conference, only our aim is to cover topics that matter to writers and editors. We think that’s smart practice and, very likely, essential for survival in the fast-paced, ever-changing business of publishing.
And we’re not alone. Recent #editorchat participants include Patrick LaForge (@palafo), City Room editor for The New York Times, Ken Wheaton (@kenwheaton), a writer and editor for Advertising Age, Danny Sanchez (@dannysanchez), a multimedia journalist with the Orlando Sentinel, John Blyler (@dark_faust), editor of Chip Design Magazine, and, of course, your host at Editor Unleashed, Maria Schneider.
In earlier weeks #editorchat has covered the editorial impact of publishers chasing scarce profits, what constitutes fair pay and the rise of content crowdsourcing. Tonight we’ll be talking about the digital divide in publishing. Does it exist? And, if so, can it be bridged?
To participate:
Log into Twitter shortly before 8 p.m. and search for #editorchat. Messages posted with this “hashtag,” as it’s known, are aggregated into a conversation. Refresh the screen to see new messages.
You can also use the free TweetChat or TweetGrid services to follow the discussion. Enter your name and password and specify “#editorchat” as the room you wish to enter. To respond to a topic, post with “#editorchat” at the end of your message. (TweetChat and TweetGrid will do this for you, however.)
Writers have had plenty of reasons to be on Twitter. Now editors do, too.
Tim Beyers is a Fool. Really. For the past five years, he’s been a regular contributor to The Motley Fool covering technology, personal finance and airlines. He loves irony, freelancing, books and the occasional can of Mountain Dew. For more Editorchat, visit the blog, where you’ll find topics, transcripts and other editor-y goodness.
Flickr photo by striatic
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Maria, if you go to #editorchat tonight and just use your usual Twitter feature, does it go to each of your “followers”- no explanation that it is part of a thread?
If you use TweetChat and TweetGrid (which I have never heard of before, sorry) is it more private? Are you just tweeting in that room/group?
How do you get TweetChat and TweetGrid?
I searched for #editorchat and came up empty handed on twitter. What am I doing wrong?
@ Mary, yes you’re tweets go out to all of your followers even though you’re in a “private” chat room. Strange, I know.
@Lhotseface, I just did the search and it worked for me. Go to the “search” function at the bottom of the Twitter homepage and type in #editorchat (make sure you use the hashtag). It should work.
That time doesn’t work for me. Ever think of doing any during the day?
@DVDweets
Just checked out the past discussions. It is a manic kind of communication, that is for sure.
Which handle (is that the word) do you use Maria?
I’m going to try and come tonight. There were some negatives listed about TweetGrid, what about TweetChat? Do I need it?
@Mary I use tweetchat and my name is just my twitter name http://twitter.com/mariaschneider
Thank, Maria. I found it. But there is no “follow” button. So I just refresh the screen to read who is saying what?
Yes, just refresh you screen to follow the conversation.
Open offer: If any of you has trouble or questions tonight during the chat you can send me an @reply on Twitter, where I post as @milehighfool. I promise to try to help. Before then, you can send me email at tbeyers@gmail.com.
Ooh, thanks for the heads up! I’ll be there.
If you have TweetDeck you can follow these chats, too. Just do a search for #editorchat and it will add a column just for those tweets.
And yes, all tweets and @replies sent with that hashtag go out to all your followers. One of the problems with these “chats” is if you are actively participating, it can get a bit confusing to your other followers (and downright annoying if you’re tweeting out a lot of “yeah me too’s”).
#Editorchat was an interesting experience Maria. I lurked tonight. I learned some things, but mostly I feel out of breath and like my eyes have crossed.
Lots of firsts today. I downloaded Tweetdeck, found the refresh button, conversation button… and, observed an impressive lineup of editors.
Thanks for letting us know about editorchat. There is so much I need to learn.