Last night, I asked a politician a question. And because I was on twitter, as was the politician, I asked it on twitter. The politician answered me, but was also annoyed that I’d jumped to conclusions by posting to twitter. I argued I was just asking a question, not making a statement, but 24 hours later I can see his point.
Today, I also asked a politician a question using twitter. Mindful of what had happened last night, I sent him a Direct Message. And he in turn answered by Direct Message. So far so good.
Then I started second-guessing myself. A DM is regarded as a private message. It’s a one on one exchange, not one to many. In journalistic terms, did that mean it was the equivalent of an off the record briefing, rather than an on the record quote?
As it turns out, it was an on the record quote this time. But I’m not certain everybody would take the same approach. And I’m probably not the only person who’s had the same thought. Then I thought of all those journalists second-guessing themselves, all those hours waiting for clarification.
New technology disrupts in more was than one.
