Social Media Week NY: So What Exactly Is the Role of the Social Media Editor?
As promised (or threatened, not sure which is more appropriate), I’ll be doing daily blog posts about Social Media Week NY. And today is no exception. Of course today’s big ticket panel, titled “Networked News Gatherers: Defining the Social Media Editor Role“, hosted by Time Inc., sold out within minutes, so I watched via Livestream in the comfort of my living room. Ain’t technology grand?
Social Media Week NY
The panel attempted to answer an important question: what exactly is the role of the social media editor? Here’s who was on board to try and explain:
- Moderator: Melissa Parrish, Director, Community Strategy for Lifestyle Digital, Time Inc.
- Jennifer Preston, Social Media Editor, The New York Times
- Rachel Sklar, Business/Project Development, QAbrams Research and Writer for Mediaite
- Cyndi Stivers, Managing Editor, EW.com
Unfortunately, we really don’t know that much more about the social media editor’s role than we did before the panel started. I don’t know if it was because I was watching from home, but I had trouble focusing, and based on some of the tweets I received, I don’t think I was alone.
Melissa Parrish understands social media, but she had trouble keeping the panelists on point, which resulted in more of a free-flowing discussion of the pros and cons of social media and how organizations (like the NYT and EW) and the people within those organizations are using it, rather than a pointed discussion of the role of the so-called social media editor. I’m not saying that it wasn’t a lively and entertaining discussion, and there were some good nuggets in there (particularly from Jennifer Preston), but it just didn’t deliver on the promise of the title.
I’ve put together my standard Tale of the Tweets from the event. If you want a more comprehensive real-time report on the panel, check out the official Social Media Week blog post by David Berkowitz of 360i.
Tale of the Tweets
RT @dberkowitz: hashtags for today’s Time Life event to follow: #smw for social media week, #smwnyc for NY, #smwnytime for this panel
This panel of course sold out within minutes, so watching from my own couch right here: http://tinyurl.com/y8qs3gv #smwny
RT @SusannaSpeier: Watching @melissaparrish @rachelsklar @nyt_JenPreston speak at Social Media Week #smwnytime
EW really focusing on Twitter, hasn’t done much with Facebook. Very interesting. #smwnytime #smw
All EW personnel on Twitter tweet themselves. And do this in addition to their day jobs. I’m an Aus-hole (@EWAusielloFiles) #smwnytime
Whoa. @nyt_JenPreston confessed that when she became Social Media Editor at NYT she had a “mom” phone. #smwnytime
NYT has strict ethics guidelines but doesn’t impose strict rules and restrictions on journalists who tweet. Novel concept. #smwnytime
NYT encourages experimentation and engagement. But no joining the McCain or Obama fan pages on Facebook. #smwnyc #smwnytime
Hey @NYT_JenPreston I’m a Times Person. What new features are coming? It’s a great idea but needs work. #smwnytime
Bombshell: NY Times is not allowed to say “tweet.” Must say “post to Twitter.” #smw #smwnyc #smwnytime [Ed. note: this was stated by Jennifer Preston, and I believe it's a self-imposed rule. In my opinion, this was the most interesting thing to come out during this panel]
RT @LeavittDC: When the NYT charges for content in 2011, “the payment process will be frictionless,” pledges @NYT_JenPreston #smwnytime
Hey crazy dude quoting Izzy Stone and Marx, get to your question!!! #smwnytime
Q from audience: “What is most valuable thing you bring to your role as social media editor?” aka: “Justify your jobs, ladies.” #smwnytime
And that’s a wrap for now. See you later!
10 Responses to “Social Media Week NY: So What Exactly Is the Role of the Social Media Editor?”
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“What is most valuable thing you bring to your role as social media editor?”
What was the answer to this question? I’m always curious to hear how people who do social media work professionally for a media outlet answer this one.
Someone answered “trust” and it devolved from there. Not very helpful or insightful.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for tuning in to the stream!
I can’t say I disagree with your opinion that we didn’t actually define the Social Media Editor role, but I think I differ in the way I interpreted where the discussion ended up.
Just before the Q/A began, I asked whether the panelists thought the specialized role of a dedicated social media person would be long-lasting or if everyone needed to learn those skills. From their responses I understood that though there is no generally accepted/expected job description for a Social Media Editor, big media is committed to continuing to engage with its audience wherever/however it gathers, and that those companies need to be prepared to be flexible and learn on their feet as they continue embracing the social media world.
I do agree that Jennifer’s comment about having to say “post to twitter” was one of the most provocative tidbits. I’d love to know more about that one, too!
Anyway, thanks again for watching the stream and for sharing your thoughts.
Melissa,
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate your take on it, and having this dialogue is exactly why social media is such a game-changer. And who would have thought 5 years ago we’d even be discussing the role of a “social media editor” at big media companies. Amazing.
I received a lot of interest in Jennifer’s comment regarding “post to Twitter.”‘ You could host another panel on that subject alone!
Thanks again and I look forward to continuing the dialogue here and on Twitter.
You’re right– Jennifer’s comment is easily the most talked about item that came out of the event. Between that and the recent inclusion of “unfriending” in the dictionary, maybe we should be putting together a “Verbs in Social Media” panel.
Did you see that I posted a link this morning to the NYT’s use of “tweet” in connection with the Sun CEO resignation. Controversy! Social media (and gaming) has completely changed our lexicon. Unfriend, pwned, tweet, “facebook me” not to mention all the acronyms that are part of our everyday discourse (SMH, FML). It’s remarkable.
And I love that we’re having this conversation.
Indeed, all your acronym are belong to us.
I did see that you posted that link this morning. I wonder if they’re allowed to use tweet in reference to what other people do, but not as a call to action? Now I really really want to know! Hopefully Jen will check her tweets and clear it up.
From the perspective of the Times, I am sure they see “Tweet” as jargon made up by a corporation that may or may not establish itself permanently in our language. They would no sooner use Xerox as a verb or Kleenex to mean a tissue. Twitter didn’t exist 5 years ago, and it’s entirely possible that it won’t exist in 5 years. Its users represent only a tiny fraction of the number of people who read the NYT online, in print, and by wire service. I think their stance is entirely appropriate in terms of their objective of communicating information clearly to all of their users–not just the ones enmeshed in social media.