The BBC is obsessed with Twitter - Broadcasting

neil.christie · 12-09-2009, 15:03

Thought I would try to gather other people's thoughts about the BBC and its relationship with Twitter, the online 'micro blogging' service.

I've noticed that in the past few months there has been a huge rise in the amount of linkage BBC online gives to Twitter, the number of staff using it and it being mentioned during broadcast TV and radio programmes.

A good example is F1 practice sessions, where the commentators regularly read out messages sent to them using Twitter and request that people use the service to contact them as an alternative to SMS. I don't have any problem with the BBC encouraging audience participation, but Twitter is a private company.

When they ask people to call in, send an email or text message, they aren't promoting anything. They don't know which network or email provider people will use, so it's impossible to say that there is something wrong with this. However, when the presenters ask people to "tweet" this can only be done using one service and it is the service of a private company.

I noticed a story on the BBC News website today: "Brown Lotto trick 'confuses' fans". The BBC journalist has taken the comments made by people on Twitter and turned them into a news story - completely ignoring the many ways in which fans can actually air their views and simply promoting Twitter once again. It's unnecessary - the story could have been written and the same conclusion could have been reached with no mention of Twitter, and by using a fair sample of "fans" sharing their views from around the web.

Returning to F1 as well, many of the BBC's presenting staff have profiles on the site which they regularly update over the course of the weekend when they are supposed to be working for the corporation. Jake Humphrey and Lee McKenzie both do it and their Twitter pages are openly linked to from their real blogs on the BBC F1 website.

Does anyone else have a problem with this? I would submit a complaint to the BBC, but sadly I've not been keeping a diary of every time they shamelessly promote this company.

mikw · 12-09-2009, 15:32

Rightly or wrongly Twitter is an ever increasing method of communication.

I have notice many broadcasters mentioning it.
- even Sky News!

mossy2103 · 12-09-2009, 15:34

Twitter, as an online community, is now becoming seen as a means of communication, and in the business world it is seen as a useful (accessible and free) feedback tool with easy access. Companies such as VirginMedia use Twitter, even ITV uses Twitter. It is there and accessible, so why not use it, just like email is there, just like YouTube is there.

http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/89...ies-kicks-off/

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/n...sme-boom.shtml

Simple as that.

angustay · 12-09-2009, 15:45

The recent elections in Afghanistan and the media being banned there has highlighted Twitter as one of the only sources for news companies (especially CNN) to find out what was happening there.

John259 · 12-09-2009, 15:57

Perhaps they need to invent a phrase for Twitter similar to the good old "sticky backed plastic" for Sellotape.

John

4-Tel · 12-09-2009, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.christie

When they ask people to call in, send an email or text message, they aren't promoting anything. They don't know which network or email provider people will use, so it's impossible to say that there is something wrong with this. However, when the presenters ask people to "tweet" this can only be done using one service and it is the service of a private company.

Does anyone else have a problem with this? I would submit a complaint to the BBC, but sadly I've not been keeping a diary of every time they shamelessly promote this company.

To be honest, in addition to the plugging of a private company, I regard it as plain embarassing that the BBC wants to attach itself so closely to this fad. It's like the corportaion wants to be seen to be in touch, yet e-mails, the BBC's own websites and generic blogs are just as effective means of connecting with viewers and listeners. Obviously, the BBC should reflect aspects of popular culture, but the Twitter obsession seems just a little bit desperate.

rebel23 · 12-09-2009, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4-Tel

To be honest, in addition to the plugging of a private company, I regard it as plain embarassing that the BBC wants to attach itself so closely to this fad. It's like the corportaion wants to be seen to be in touch, yet e-mails, the BBC's own websites and generic blogs are just as effective means of connecting with viewers and listeners. Obviously, the BBC should reflect aspects of popular culture, but the Twitter obsession seems just a little bit desperate.

they always attach themselves to things like that because it enables them to expand. if Twitter becomes some kind of media platform you can bet the BBC will be there with an army of highly paid twitter consultants, editors, content managers etc

rebel23 · 12-09-2009, 16:15

with the popularity of twitter it would not surprise me if the BBC hire a director of social media and a establish a social media research centre all in the name of their interpreted PSB remit and charter of course, which serves only to marginalise true PSB

mossy2103 · 12-09-2009, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel23

they always attach themselves to things like that because it enables them to expand. if Twitter becomes some kind of media platform you can bet the BBC will be there with an army of highly paid twitter consultants, editors, content managers etc

It already IS a media platform, even ITV and C4 use it. The Telegraph used it this year for some Budget coverage. Guardianjobs uses it. The Times uses it.

And unless YOU know of any such highly paid Twitter consultants I think that your post lacks any degree of constructive debate.

mikw · 12-09-2009, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel23

with the popularity of twitter it would not surprise me if the BBC hire a director of social media and a establish a social media research centre all in the name of their interpreted PSB remit and charter of course, which serves only to marginalise true PSB

What the heck are you on about?

It's Twitter.

Did you complain when the BBC and ALL OTHER BROADCASTERS started putting mobile phones in programmes and started talking about the "interweb"?

hopeandfaith06 · 12-09-2009, 17:43

I know quite a few BBC shows use Twitter, but the general BBC feed never seems to be used: http://twitter.com/BBC whereas ITV use it for shows and just a general feed: http://twitter.com/ITVinsider and they always reply to anything you ask them which i think is great.

dmc5007 · 12-09-2009, 17:48

Twitter has the benefit of giving the viewer a much more interactive and ongoing dialogue with BBC personalities. People such as Nicky Campbell, Aggers and Jake Humprey use twitter when they are off the clock and post info and photos that wouldn't work via email or blogs.

If the BBC are looking for high paid twitter consultants - I'm available for a reasonable fee.

angustay · 12-09-2009, 18:33

Say what you like about Twitter but the BBC is banned in quite a few middle eastern countries if it was not for Twitter the BBC would not be able to report the main stories from those areas. People all over the world like Twitter and people in some inaccessable countries can use Twitter to get news stories out that may be surpressed by their government. I even believe Bush and Blair allegally found out valuable information about terrorisim through Twitter that their top government people new nothing about.

12-09-2009, 19:09

They seem obsessed about it.

John259 · 12-09-2009, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmc5007

info and photos that wouldn't work via email or blogs.

Why not?

neil.christie · 12-09-2009, 19:28

I think a lot of you are missing the point. The BBC has a massively powerful online presence as it is - why does it need to use or promote the services of a private company to communicate with viewers?

If it really needed a 140 character blogging system it could easily build one itself and allow staff to post updates using that. Indeed, the Twitter service undermines the current blogs of personalities as it is, and some staff post content on Twitter during working hours which can only be found on Twitter and not on their own BBC blogs.

I'm not disputing the fact that Twitter itself is popular, nor am I condemning the BBC's news coverage if the inclusion of Twitter is relevant (as in the Afghanistan stuff mentioned above). I am concerned that the BBC is becoming too attached to the company and is in danger of breaking its own policies against advertising and promotion of a third party.

Tassium · 12-09-2009, 19:37

I think many in the media have a false sense of it's usage in the real world, I doubt the BBC have any ulteria motive it's just something many people of a certain age like to use.

Perhaps they havn't really thought it through because there is only one Twitter (unlike email as the OP says) and as a public service they shouldn't really be going on about it.

But a commercial organisation wouldn't think twice about such mentions.

GeoffNI · 12-09-2009, 23:48

Don't make this out to be an BBC agenda. The world is going crazy over Twitter.

Svensson · 12-09-2009, 23:54

I think it's great. I use Twitter every day and enjoy the insight you get from individuals such as Radio 1 DJ's and Radio 5 live or people like Jonathan Agnew from TMS or Jake Humphrey from BBC F1

welsh_Gaz · 12-09-2009, 23:55

I'm crap at Twitter, so I hate it.

John259 · 13-09-2009, 04:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffNI

The world is going crazy over Twitter.

No, a few media kiddies are following a transient fashion.

John

mossy2103 · 13-09-2009, 08:07

For anyone with a sense of deja vu, this subject was first aired on a four-page thread in March this year:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1000342

GarethHarrison · 13-09-2009, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.christie

I've noticed that in the past few months there has been a huge rise in the amount of linkage BBC online gives to Twitter, the number of staff using it and it being mentioned during broadcast TV and radio programmes.

Although another way of looking at it is that if you send a text in, they're promoting the services of mobile providers, who are actually making money by people texting in, whereas with Twitter, I can't see how they are making money by messages being sent via the service. It's not like it's only the BBC doing it - pretty much every media organisation has linked into using Twitter (as well as Youtube, Facebook etc etc... basically, the popular social interaction methods on the net!)

wonketydonkety · 13-09-2009, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by John259

No, a few media kiddies are following a transient fashion.

John

Very true, as with all things it will eventually pass...

Chris123 · 13-09-2009, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossy2103

For anyone with a sense of deja vu, this subject was first aired on a four-page thread in March this year:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1000342

Think of this as the +1 channel who missed is the first time around.

12-09-2009, 15:03	#1
neil.christie Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 316	The BBC is obsessed with Twitter Thought I would try to gather other people's thoughts about the BBC and its relationship with Twitter, the online 'micro blogging' service. I've noticed that in the past few months there has been a huge rise in the amount of linkage BBC online gives to Twitter, the number of staff using it and it being mentioned during broadcast TV and radio programmes. A good example is F1 practice sessions, where the commentators regularly read out messages sent to them using Twitter and request that people use the service to contact them as an alternative to SMS. I don't have any problem with the BBC encouraging audience participation, but Twitter is a private company. When they ask people to call in, send an email or text message, they aren't promoting anything. They don't know which network or email provider people will use, so it's impossible to say that there is something wrong with this. However, when the presenters ask people to "tweet" this can only be done using one service and it is the service of a private company. I noticed a story on the BBC News website today: "Brown Lotto trick 'confuses' fans". The BBC journalist has taken the comments made by people on Twitter and turned them into a news story - completely ignoring the many ways in which fans can actually air their views and simply promoting Twitter once again. It's unnecessary - the story could have been written and the same conclusion could have been reached with no mention of Twitter, and by using a fair sample of "fans" sharing their views from around the web. Returning to F1 as well, many of the BBC's presenting staff have profiles on the site which they regularly update over the course of the weekend when they are supposed to be working for the corporation. Jake Humphrey and Lee McKenzie both do it and their Twitter pages are openly linked to from their real blogs on the BBC F1 website. Does anyone else have a problem with this? I would submit a complaint to the BBC, but sadly I've not been keeping a diary of every time they shamelessly promote this company.

12-09-2009, 15:32	#2
mikw Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,534	Rightly or wrongly Twitter is an ever increasing method of communication. I have notice many broadcasters mentioning it. - even Sky News!

12-09-2009, 15:34	#3
mossy2103 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 32,987	Twitter, as an online community, is now becoming seen as a means of communication, and in the business world it is seen as a useful (accessible and free) feedback tool with easy access. Companies such as VirginMedia use Twitter, even ITV uses Twitter. It is there and accessible, so why not use it, just like email is there, just like YouTube is there. http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/89...ies-kicks-off/ http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/n...sme-boom.shtml Simple as that.

12-09-2009, 15:45	#4
angustay Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 619	The recent elections in Afghanistan and the media being banned there has highlighted Twitter as one of the only sources for news companies (especially CNN) to find out what was happening there.

12-09-2009, 15:57	#5
John259 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Gender: Male Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Services: LG LCD IDTV; Tacolneston TX; Virgin Media ADSL Posts: 5,301	Perhaps they need to invent a phrase for Twitter similar to the good old "sticky backed plastic" for Sellotape. John

12-09-2009, 16:15	#8
rebel23 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 364	with the popularity of twitter it would not surprise me if the BBC hire a director of social media and a establish a social media research centre all in the name of their interpreted PSB remit and charter of course, which serves only to marginalise true PSB

12-09-2009, 17:43	#11
hopeandfaith06 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Penrith, Cumbria Services: www.itvgallery.co.uk www.twitter.com/tomo359 Posts: 13,921	I know quite a few BBC shows use Twitter, but the general BBC feed never seems to be used: http://twitter.com/BBC whereas ITV use it for shows and just a general feed: http://twitter.com/ITVinsider and they always reply to anything you ask them which i think is great.

12-09-2009, 17:48	#12
dmc5007 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Midlands Services: Virgin VIP, XBOX 360 Posts: 546	Twitter has the benefit of giving the viewer a much more interactive and ongoing dialogue with BBC personalities. People such as Nicky Campbell, Aggers and Jake Humprey use twitter when they are off the clock and post info and photos that wouldn't work via email or blogs. If the BBC are looking for high paid twitter consultants - I'm available for a reasonable fee.

12-09-2009, 18:33	#13
angustay Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 619	Say what you like about Twitter but the BBC is banned in quite a few middle eastern countries if it was not for Twitter the BBC would not be able to report the main stories from those areas. People all over the world like Twitter and people in some inaccessable countries can use Twitter to get news stories out that may be surpressed by their government. I even believe Bush and Blair allegally found out valuable information about terrorisim through Twitter that their top government people new nothing about.

12-09-2009, 19:09	#14
NG4 4GS Posts: n/a	They seem obsessed about it.

12-09-2009, 19:28	#16
neil.christie Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 316	I think a lot of you are missing the point. The BBC has a massively powerful online presence as it is - why does it need to use or promote the services of a private company to communicate with viewers? If it really needed a 140 character blogging system it could easily build one itself and allow staff to post updates using that. Indeed, the Twitter service undermines the current blogs of personalities as it is, and some staff post content on Twitter during working hours which can only be found on Twitter and not on their own BBC blogs. I'm not disputing the fact that Twitter itself is popular, nor am I condemning the BBC's news coverage if the inclusion of Twitter is relevant (as in the Afghanistan stuff mentioned above). I am concerned that the BBC is becoming too attached to the company and is in danger of breaking its own policies against advertising and promotion of a third party.

12-09-2009, 19:37	#17
Tassium Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: It's Grim Services: MK2 Interocitor Posts: 2,868	I think many in the media have a false sense of it's usage in the real world, I doubt the BBC have any ulteria motive it's just something many people of a certain age like to use. Perhaps they havn't really thought it through because there is only one Twitter (unlike email as the OP says) and as a public service they shouldn't really be going on about it. But a commercial organisation wouldn't think twice about such mentions.

12-09-2009, 23:48	#18
GeoffNI Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Services: Toshiba Regza 32", Samsung Sky+HD, Xbox Live, Sky World, ESPN Posts: 2,188	Don't make this out to be an BBC agenda. The world is going crazy over Twitter.

12-09-2009, 23:54	#19
Svensson Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maidstone/Surrey /Switzerland Services: Freeview, Broadband Posts: 53	I think it's great. I use Twitter every day and enjoy the insight you get from individuals such as Radio 1 DJ's and Radio 5 live or people like Jonathan Agnew from TMS or Jake Humphrey from BBC F1

12-09-2009, 23:55	#20
welsh_Gaz Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Plas Madoc, N.E. Wales. Posts: 854	I'm crap at Twitter, so I hate it.

13-09-2009, 08:07	#22
mossy2103 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 32,987	For anyone with a sense of deja vu, this subject was first aired on a four-page thread in March this year: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1000342