Reading: Social media advice for the LATimes (and all companies, for that matter) [link to post]

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Good advice on Co’s using twitter in a way that fits twitter conventions from @ariherzog aka ariwriter: [link to post]

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@LATimes is flattered that you’ve considered the brand so thoroughly, and as you can see, we’ve taken some of your advice to heart.

@smartinez – Let’s continue the conversation. We value you and your family’s longtime patronage of the newspaper and digital media.

@figmentations – Thank you for your kind, understanding reply.

@diablogue_chat – Several of our staff reporters have their own individual twitter streams, including @LAJourno, @latimestot, @latimesfood (Rene Lynch + the LAT Test Kitchen crew), @latimestravel (Editor Catharine Hamm + her staff), @LATimesJerry, freelance Travel blogger @jenleo, New York-based television/media reporter @mateagold …. to name just a few.

Please stay tuned to http://www.latimes.com/twitter to see as we add and list new accounts.

We’ve got an extensive, newsroom-wide Twitter and social media training program planned starting in early 2009.

Sincerely,
~ Andrew @LATimesNystrom
Sr. Producer, Social + Emerging Media, Los Angeles Times

Jaculynn, speaking of your avatar, you might want to consider signing up for a Gravatar account, per the link at the bottom of this page. Oh, and NASA takes your idea with their approximate 17 feeds, each for a different project.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sylvia. I’m not following the Times/Tribune issues, but I can only imagine it’s a tight ship run over there.

But I find it slightly creepy to have them flip back and forth from brands to people. It reminds me of salespeople who don’t really know you, but look at your credit card at the last second and then call you by name. You aren’t fooling me!

And by the way, I’ve lived in LA my whole life, and between my parents and me, have subscribed to the LA Times for over 70 years. I have always loved the Times, and it would be incredibly hard for me to stop subscribing. This is not just about where I spend my money, it’s a cultural touchstone and part of my identity as a native Angeleno.

I’m disgusted that Sam Zell is wrecking it for personal profit. But I also know that there are many hardworking people at the Times who are struggling to maintain a first class operation. Can I support them without it going into Zell’s pocket?

I can’t say for sure, but “knowing” people at the Times through social media might be what keeps me hooked a little longer.

sylvia martinez´s last blog post..Words are just words