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Top-level
 As for why journalists find Blue Check so compelling, think about it. What's the pull for modern journalism? It's not pay, I can tell you that much. For many nowadays, journalism pays barely above subsistence wages. But journalism still conveys a certain amount of respectability, especially with culture. And Twitter's Blue Check gave journalists the same respectability as politicians and rock stars. If Twitter deemed you "notable", you got a blue check. 33 comments
I suspect that once the legacy Blue Check goes away, there will be many journalists who will still do everything they can to keep Twitter relevant. Yes, the stats are a lie, and "reach" should be taken with a grain of salt. Few people click to articles from Twitter. Elon Musk, himself, views journalists with contempt. And yet, many journalists will continue to use Twitter because giving up perceived social status is scary.  Personally, I believe journalism is still an important profession. But I also think there's a big difference between investigative journalism that holds the rich and powerful to account, and bootlickers who will do anything for access to the rich and powerful. More and more, Twitter is becoming the domain of bootlickers. Nothing proves this more than the 💩 emoji that Twitter auto-replies to press inquiries.  There will come a day -- probably not now -- where journalists will be *forced* to leave Twitter. That is, if they want to maintain their social status. Now I'm not a journalist. I'm just a tech worker who's viewing this farce from the outside. There's not a day that goes by where I don't wonder what kind of indignities journalists will continue to suffer in order to keep Twitter a going concern. @atomicpoet If you're chronicling what's happening, in a good faith, I'd contend that you are, in fact, a journalist. I get your point, but real journalism isn't about status; it's about duty to the truth. Take care. I will say this much, though. Every day that journalists stay on Twitter and refuse to join the Fediverse is a day they're not impacting the ongoing development of the Fediverse. Which is something I know that a whole lot of journalists will eventually regret. Is it better to be a leader or a follower? When it comes to social media, few journalists are being leaders. @atomicpoet Dude, you say all the right things, but it's easier to hang on to someone's tail than to hang on to their beard. Now I want to highlight a bunch of journalists who actually are being leaders in the domain of social media: @TexasObserver The weren't just one of the first publications to join the Fediverse, but the first to start their own server too. A few weeks ago, the organization was nearly shut down due to lack of funding. But here again, they became innovators by using the Fediverse to crowdfund -- and thus save -- @TexasObserver. In doing this, they may have validated a new model for funding! Later today, I'm actually hosting a roundtable on Fediverse crowdfunding. I've had this roundtable planned weeks in advance. As a software dev, I've been thinking about further possibilities for baking crowdfunding into Fediverse platforms -- making it easier for organizations to fund their social media pursuits. Then last week, @TexasObserver gave me my first case study for crowdfunding's potential. As @TexasObserver demonstrates, crowdfunding could be a domain for journalists to validate through the Fediverse. It could be a means of freeing them not only from Big Social, but also the private equity firms that have gutted local reporting for decades. There's no reason journalists couldn't run their local state or town's Fediverse server (for example). But again, you need a few more brave journalists willing to see the potential. @atomicpoet @TexasObserver Totally agree Chris. I'd like to journalists having their own dedicated severs, specialized to their needs. Steve  @atomicpoet @TexasObserver As a fellow tech worker who works in the non-profit journalism space, I can say that having this baked into the ecosystem somehow would probably go far in getting certain newsrooms interested in the Fediverse.   @atomicpoet @TexasObserver What I absolutely love about Texas Observer is that they went all in and did their own instance. It is time for ALL REPUTABLE INSTITUTIONS to do likewise. Their journalists gain the distinction of having an account on the instance - and it makes everything easier for everyone. Blue check? PFFFT. Bish, cheeze. 🧀 🧀 🧀 @atomicpoet @TexasObserver but in the fediverse you don't need a bluecheck to verify yourself. If you as media or entity run your own server under your registered domain and only allow self journalist accounts, that's accounts are automatically verified. @atomicpoet @TexasObserver On this thread: (1) Blue checks are a small factor: the main problem is simply the built up networks of incluence (2) If other networks of influence emerge, then journalists will engage (3) Social power and knowledge ports, even if whole networks cannot be moved intact; this will become more obvious to people over time (3) The Fediverse cannot resist / remove, only ameliorate factors of power, so the sacrifice is never as large as all that @damemagazine Yes, it’s happening at 8PM PST/11PM EST. DM me your email address, and I’ll send you a calendar invite to the Jitsi meeting.  @atomicpoet @TexasObserver Chris, there have been a lot of layoffs lately. I'm one of many, tbh. I love the fediverse and support its goals. I think your point is important. We should leverage those layoffs to build some editorial entrepreneurship around these parts. I was around in 2009 and 2010 on Twitter and remember how much breaking news really drove it. We need that wave around these parts. @atomicpoet @TexasObserver What sets Mastodon apart is the focus on personal autonomy, and we should double down on that. Let's help content creators, social movements, and people in need connect and support each other financially. @atomicpoet Please highlight the influential trolls on this platform next, Chris! The trolls on Twitter enjoy a much higher social status, and this can be a harsh, unforgiving place for us. @atomicpoet @TexasObserver I hope it is. The corporate ownership model of journalism is crashing. Specially when it comes to local news.  @atomicpoet Did they track the metrics of the crowd funding, to know where most of the donor prospects were funneled in from? @atomicpoet This is why I want to see more Conservative journos out here! I've not found any.  @atomicpoet I’m not a journalist, just an ordinary guy who enjoys keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s happening around me in the world. That said — the moment Musk removed the ban on our just-indicted ex-President, I began setting up a presence here on Mastodon. That was the first clear signal of the direction (⬇️ 🚽 ) that things were heading over there. And yes, it is certainly good to get in early on something new and growing with miles of potential still ahead of it. @atomicpoet Journalist here. I definitely don't care about Twitter's blue checkmark. The only relevance it has to me is to see whose identity has been verified to some extent. That's now pointless, given how anyone with a few dollars can set up a fake account with a blue checkmark.  @atomicpoet I think #MedMastodon #IDMastodon #Epidemiology #Microbiology #RxMastodon will also regret it. Much to build on here that IS sustainable. Much that can be done to provide good information, in anticipation of pandemics, outbreaks, etc.  @atomicpoet It's quickly becoming 4chan. First making blue ticks meaningless, now "state-sponsored media" tags on media outlets simply because Musk doesn't like them. @atomicpoet: oh wow, I had to search an article to believe it: https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-twitter-poop-emoji-autoreply-press-email-1850243014 I deleted my account in December and feel I made the right decision. @atomicpoet Like most things, I think they need to be told a story that helps them understand the virtues of a #Fediverse as opposed to a silo. As you know, it's about a good story plus lots of repetition 😀  @atomicpoet it's been that way since the 90s or even earlier. When I was in journalism school, I was also working as a secretary in the medical school, and would have had to take a 20% pay cut to start at any daily paper. I was also freelancing news and tech articles, getting $350 for 1000 words at best. That rate is still considered competitive 30 years later. |
Gregory's Server
To be objective about Twitter is to acknowledge that it's quickly losing its cultural cachet.
What made the old Blue Check system so compelling is that no one could buy it. Twitter awarded it to you. It was an acknowledgement that you were important.
But if someone can buy the Blue Check, the Blue Check loses its value.
What's more, "legacy" Blue Checks are about to go away.
Journalists are about to lose their social status -- even if they pay.