The biggest problem with Twitter is that itap the modern-day equivalent of an ivory tower. Only 22% of the American public uses the site, according to the Pew Research Center. I can tell you from experience that those users interested in news and politics content are disproportionately journalists, politicians and political junkies — not typical news consumers. Itap where insiders go to show their peers how clever/snarky they are and, in the case of journalists, that scoop they just landed. I’m as guilty as the next person.
A reinforces the importance of journalists not mistaking Twitter for a barometer of public opinion: The nonprofit found that 10% of users generated the vast majority of tweets about national politics, and 80% of those tweets came from people who strongly disapprove of President Donald Trump. Those who strongly approve of him only accounted for 11% of tweets.
By contrast, most put disapproval of Trump in the mid-50s and approval in the low 40s, according to the website RealClearPolitics.
Still, the president himself has made Twitter a necessary place for journalists to be, as he regularly announces policy and personnel decisions via his personal account, , or his official account, . Other politicians on both sides of the aisle also use both Twitter and Facebook to have their say. The presidentap comments Wednesday about building the wall in Colorado — which he about — drew quick responses from and many others on Twitter.
The social network can offer an opportunity for citizens to hear directly from their political leaders simply by . The downside is this communication can be a one-way street when leaders drop statements on Twitter and ignore followup questions and comments.
Let me know: Are you on Twitter? Do you see value in it? Journalists, at least, usually enjoy engaging on both Twitter and Facebook as long as commenters are civil. The Denver Post politics team’s Twitter handles are , , , and . We’re also glad to host conversations on anything related to state or local politics in our , The Spot for Colorado Politics.
Whatever the platform, we’re all better informed when voters are part of the conversation.
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The number of Colorado Gunnison sage grouse has dropped to as few as 1,800 birds, The Denver Postap Kieran Nicholson reports — leading the Western Watersheds Project to question whether federal and state officials are doing enough to protect them.
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