After four decades of writing in at least paragraph form, I finally joined Twitter last Sunday Presto: I already have over 300 "followers," which makes Jesus, with 12, look like a piker. As Marvin Gaye sang, "How tweet it is to be loved by you." But it's the news scoop/instant political connection aspect that impresses me so far.
It was about time I signed on. I came across an online article just yesterday that stated, "Twitter has jumped the shark." It was dated March 25, 2007. Perhaps it is still in mid-air two years later.
So what happened this week? Believe me, it had nothing to do with finding out what everyone had for breakfast or what they think of "Walkmen."
For one thing, I found out that Kos, McJoan, Hunter and other stalwarts here are all twittering and it is great to follow them--Kos can be funny as he battles his kids for control of his laptop. And Rachel Maddow, too (yes, she does it herself).
For another: I discovered that a well-known political activist, who happens to work in my building in NYC, was recommending to everyone a Vietnamese sandwich shop in the nabe -- and we quickly made a date for lunch.
At least three former online employees here at E&P, and a well-known writer who worked for me at a magazine 25 years ago, found me and are now true (if not necessarily rabid) followers. I now get instant tips and updates from David Corn in Washington, Ari Melber in NYC and Glenn Greenwald -- wherever he is. A guy from The New York Times. A former Hollywood producer I interviewed nearly 30 years ago hooked up with me, too (he's now one of my son's college profs). Plenty of strangers. And so on.
Plus a bonus: I found out about the Christopher Walken page, which you simply must visit. L.V. Beethoven, too. And that guy Jesus now has more than 2,000 followers.
I am amazed with the practical results so far. I have found numerous news and political tips on Twitter updates from those I follow, and dozens quickly made their made into my blog posts or the E&P site.
Meanwhile, I've already posted a couple of dozen tweets on subjects ranging from media and politics to, occasionally, film and music.
I've generally been dismissive of Twitter as a further dumbing down of our political discourse and journalism but now I see, at least from the first week, the useful side - if you are in the news and politics business. Frankly, I still don't want to know what you had for lunch. Unless you work in my building and want to do Vietnamese.
You can find me here.
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Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher. His new book is "Why Obama Won."
