Text
Since January of this year, I have increasingly come to the conclusion that the New York Times is either arrogant or clueless when it comes to social media.
In attempting share a concern about accuracy in a late January article on radiation safety by Walt Bogdanich, I found the following:
1. The reporter, Walt Bodganich, does not respond to comments.
2. Mr. Bogdanich has no Twitter or email easily accessible.
3. The Well “Blog”, allowed comments but no one from the New York Times actually interacts or answers questions.
4. After over 50 tweets asking for a response via Twitter to both @nytimeswell and @taraparkerpope over three and a half months, I received none.
In reviewing the tweets from @nytimeswell and @taraparkerpope, I saw only outgoing tweets, like an RSS feed rather than interaction. This unilateral, quasi-autistic behavior stood in stark contrast to that of Liz Szabo of USA Today, who has many less followers but clearly interacts with many members of the healthcare community and wider Twitterverse.
After corroborating with friends in healthcare on Twitter that they have never had a response, I dug deeper and learned why: @nytimeswell follows almost no one in healthcare.
As of November 27, 2010 @nytimeswell followed 33 people, only two in health or science. Everyone else is either affiliated with the Times, entertainment or food. That’s it.
I couldn’t believe that the Times would have such little understanding of how to interact via Twitter. So I checked @nytimeshealth next: following 164, none in health. It’s even worse:
· 154 are confirmed associated with NYT
· Seven are suspicious for association with NYT
Who are the three that @nytimeshealth stoops to follow?
· Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter
· Kevin Thau, Business Development at Twitter
· The White House
That’s just pitiful. Given the lack of responsiveness, I don’t know that I’ll ever get a response from the New York Times. But I’m going to give it another try.
You can feel free to join me in sending #hcsm tweets to:
· Fiona Spruill, @fionaspruill [in charge of the web newsroom]
· Bill Keller, @nytkeller [executive editor]
· Jennifer Preston, @NYT_JenPreston [social media editor]
I’m not sure whether the last contact will matter, as the Times just eliminated its position for a social media editor.
Brilliant.
The only way they will ever “get it” is if it bothers to start listening. If not, then its news may be fit to print, but the New York Times may be unfit for social media.
