Social Media & Journalism at the NPC event l-r, Joseph Campbell, Howard Mortman, Mark Hamrick, Linda Feldmann and Patrick Gavin Photo by Sandra Abrams

As with any medium that delivers news, social media has been the biggest game changer by far in journalism. Last week in class, we learned that the strategy of using social networks for news organizations is constantly changing. The rules of the game are fluid and right now raising more questions than answers.

Citizen journalism -is it legally actionable? That was the question raised by Linda Feldmann of the Christian Science Monitor when discussing one of the problems social media has had on the industry. She was part of a panel at the National Press Club Wednesday evening entitled,”Social Media & Journalism.”Also on the dais, C-Span’s Communications Director, Howard Mortman, Politico’s Patrick Gavin, and Joseph Campbell, former print reporter and now professor at American University. Mark Hamrick with Associated Press served as moderator.

Gavin, who covers the lighthearted stuff at Politico, said in new media, old media rules apply because there is room for errors. Fact checking is still important. He offered a warning about bad tweets, “If you get something wrong, then every piece of reporting becomes suspect. It allows spin meisters to be even more powerful.” And he adds, “With the need for speed, reporters need to be really careful with the information.”

But he also said, “Double sourcing is going away.” For him, Twitter is the hot thing and tweeting pushes you to step up your game, “You also write to impress your competition.”

The issue of speed has Feldmann, who is CSM’s White House reporter, questioning the new fast and furious filing ‘news model’ of journalism. She worries about the impact of filing on demand will have on maintaining standards. With readers clicking and skimming, what impact will this have on standards?

The fast and furious model is not new, said Campbell. He pointed out during the heyday of Hearst and Pulitzer fighting it out; speed was critical with multiple editions daily.

Audience member, Rick Dunham, the editor of Texas on the Potomac, the Houston Chronicle’s Washington, D.C.-based blog txpotomac, offered up a previous conversation he had with Gavin a year ago about Twitter. “A year ago, we were wondering if seven tweets a day were too many. Now, it’s a different environment in just one year,” said Dunham. Today, it depends on your community, said Gavin.

Another question they discussed a year ago and still worth asking, is tweeting self-pimping?

Gavin checking tweets before the event Photo by Sandra Abrams

“Everyone self promotes, everyone tweets more than they should and everyone cross tweets about personal and work,” said Gavin. He suggested you follow good practices, “Try not to be a jerk and don’t embarrass your employer.”

I could not stay until the end so I missed the Politico’s scribe’s exchange with Helen Thomas about Twitter but here is the link to the Politico story thomas_ill_think_about_tweeting.html.

C-Span’s Mortman explained how his news outlet uses social media. The success of Washington Journal rest on callers with 60 calls per show. Now questions are taken via Twitter, not just phone. On its Facebook page ( CSPAN) not only will it post its schedule but also the question from the show to encourage further discussion. Recently, it has teamed up with Four Square to provide educational and landmark information about the Nation’s Capital. Tourists are big users. As for his personal Twitter account, Mortman sticks to tweeting about his favorite TV shows, like Mad Men.

The days of traditional journalism jobs are gone. Twitter, Facebook and blogging are now a daily part of the day. There is more to read and more to do to keep up with your job and the competition from inside and outside our ranks. The rules of the game continue to evolve. Six months from now, what will be different?