Chapter four was the most interesting of the first four chapters we have read so far. It focuses more specifically on blogging and the twitter phenomenon.
Twitter is probably the hottest form of communication right now. It is short, concise, and connects journalists and celebrities to their audience and fans directly. Any celebrity can claim they are posting something on a blog or website, when it is probably a lawyer or representative. Twitter can be done right on a cell phone and is quick and direct.
Although I do not use twitter, here is what I think has launched its popularity:
• It’s instantaneous. Online articles can be written and posted five minutes after an event happens. With twitter, a short and concise summary can be sent out while the event is going on.
• The length. A 140-character limit is going to keep the attention span of the reader. They can glance at their phone and look at the update as if it were a text message.
• Availability. Virtually every person of importance now has a twitter. It makes especially celebrities’ public image better since it makes it seem like they are making a conscious effort to reach out to their fans.
While twitter is a great way of communicating and receiving information, some accounts have a price to access it. I think I will wait the extra five minutes for the article to go up then pay a monthly fee to get the information on the spot.