Sky News Boulton: ‘Need for professionals amongst trivialities of Twitter’
Sky News political editor Adam Boulton said Twitter is 'another thing he has to do'. Image: Sky News
While most of the political twitterati were tonight at Tweetminster's #parl2010 debate, Sky News political editor Adam Boulton was giving the Tom Olsen Lecture at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street.
According to Boulton there is a need for professional journalists on Twitter. He said that he believes Twitter is more civilised than other internet sites filled with unbalanced and horrible comments, but seemed unconvinced when I asked him what Twitter had to offer him, twice.
"If you look at the trivialities of Twitter, it is not surprising that consumers are looking to the professionals in that," said Boulton. "The reality is that our reporters use it not to tell people that they are cutting their nasal hair, but to tell users what is going on."
He added that he thinks tweets are more intelligent and civilised than most online comments, but did not appear to be convinced that Twitter was a useful source for journalists.
"Comments posted on most news sites do not reflect the readers' opinions in general," said Boulton. "I'm happy not to have comments on my site as I believe they offer little.
"The interesting thing is that conversations on Twitter are a lot more intelligent and civilised."
However, when the political editor, who only follows nine people on Twitter, was asked what the site had to offer Sky News, he said: "It is another thing I have to do."
