Tony WebsterDec 17, 2022
As annoying as it is, the reality is that followers provide independence. If a reporter has a following, they can be more independent against corporate media power. Demanding reporters “delete their Twitter” is to cede to corporations, who will never leave Twitter. A better start to this would be to encourage journalists to join Mastodon *too* to build and diversify their audience, and to get them to report on Mastodon itself to get more folks here.
Show threadTony WebsterDec 17, 2022
Constructive things to say to journalists: join Mastodon, encourage your audience to have their conversations here, report on Mastodon, add Mastodon to your news org bio, make a video explaining how to use Mastodon, ask lawmakers if they will be joining Mastodon
Not helpful: You are a fascist just like Elon Musk for not immediately deleting your Twitter and giving up the audience you spent 15 years building. It’s all or nothing, right now.
Show threadPeterSoukupDec 17, 2022
@tony These are all valid points. But on the other hand, it's hard to stay on a platform that encourages hate speech, allows far-right extremists to thrive and its owner dabbles in censorship, conspiracy theories and is calling for prosecution of public health officials. At which point one has to say "enough is enough" ?
Show threadTony WebsterDec 17, 2022
@PeterSoukup I think what I’m encouraging is being nice and giving constructive paths for individual reporters. For giant corporate news (not individuals) turn up the heat and have at ‘em
Show threadCassandra Granade

@tony @PeterSoukup I take the point, but even for individual journalists, we are well past the point where staying is complicit. It absolutely sucks to lose that audience, and is especially hurtful to independent / freelance folks, but that's also true for writers, artists, science communicators, and other communities that have been affected by Musk's takeover.

I feel for journalists who are hurt by it, but them staying just passes the hurt along.

Dec 17, 2022 at 6:34pmWeb