BBC Reporters Embrace Social Media

New Director of BBC Global News, Peter Horrocks told news journalist of BBC to use social media as a primary source of information.

He just recently took over last week and said that it was important for editorial staff to make better use of social media and become more collaborative in producing stories. Horrocks believes that technology is changing journalism and it is important for BBC to leave a program based mindset behind.

"This isn't just a kind of fad from someone who's an enthusiast of technology. I'm afraid you're not doing your job if you can't do those things. It's not discretionary." said Horrocks in the BBC in-house weekly Ariel.

BBC is following in the foot steps of competetors like CNN whose coverage of the Haiti earthquake through social media sources has shown to an international crowd that news organizations already have been professionalizing and harnessing user content and social media.

For BBC news editors, Twitter and RSS readers are to become essential tools under Horrocks regin. BBC journalists will have to integrate and listen to feedback for a better understanding of how the audience is relating to the BBC brand.

As technology is changing the nature of journalism the BBC is tyring to keep up with the pace.