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We made a list, you checked it twice

We published a list of Twitter accounts we thought would be useful for Canadian journalism students to consider following. Then, we invited your suggestions to make it better. The flood of tweets that followed did help make the list much better, and much longer, but also taught us some difficult lessons about the hazards of making such…

We published a list of Twitter accounts we thought would be useful for Canadian journalism students to consider following. Then, we invited your suggestions to make it better. The flood of tweets that followed did help make the list much better, and much longer, but also taught us some difficult lessons about the hazards of making such lists. This Storify, put together by Eric Mark Do, provides a glimpse of what happened on Twitter and good lessons for us all in the challenges of crowdsourcing in the age of digital journalism. Make sure you read through the entire four pages for the full story. 

We published a list of Twitter accounts we thought would be useful for Canadian journalism students to consider following. Then, we invited your suggestions to make it better. The flood of tweets that followed did help make the list much better, and much longer, but also taught us some difficult lessons about the hazards of making such lists. This Storify, put together by Eric Mark Do, provides a glimpse of what happened on Twitter and good lessons for us all in the challenges of crowdsourcing in the age of digital journalism. Make sure you read through the entire four pages for the full story.

Making a list, checking it twice and again

J-Source, inspired by journalism.co.uk’s list of 100 accounts to follow on Twitter, publishes a Canadian-centric list of accounts for j-students to follow. The reaction on Twitter was interesting to say the least. This Storify is for the most part chronological, but definitely categorical.

Storified by Eric Mark Do · Thu, Oct 11 2012 09:17:07

Full disclosure: I was originally assigned to work on this list with Mary McGuire, J-Source‘s education editor, but associate editor Belinda Alzner graciously took on the task. J-Source editors, myself included, were put on the list. 

The request

McGuire and J-Source put the call out for suggestions on a Canadian list after Globe and Mail media reporter Steve Ladurantaye brings up the idea. 
Let’s do it. Who should Canadian j-students follow? RT @sladurantaye @jsource surely someone could make a Canadian list http://bit.ly/SzzziHMary McGuire
Only one person, Sun Media national bureau chief David Akin, responds. 
Here’s your list of Parliamentary Press Gallery twits: http://bit.ly/QHZX5i @mmmcgu @sladurantaye @jsourceDavid Akin

Almost two weeks later, it’s published

J-Source publishes the list, by no means claiming it to be complete – but a “starter list of Canadian Twitter accounts for you to follow that includes — but is not limited to — journalism groups, resources, jobs, news, educators, emerging trends in media and technology and up-to-the-minute reporting on a number of beats.”
Who do you need to follow? 101 Canadian Twitter accounts | J-source.caThe Canadian Journalism Project / Observatoire du journalisme
The confusion may have started with this tweet. The list was not the “top” 101 Twitter accounts to follow, but just a starting point for j-students. 
You asked, we compiled: The top 101 Twitter accounts to follow in Canadian journalism http://bit.ly/RfxFztJ-Source

Reaction.

The reaction from the online community – particularly Canadian journos – is immediate. 
Disappointed that @jsource didn’t include @WSJCanada or any of my colleagues on its top 101 Cdn Twitter account list. #FFDavid George-Cosh
J-Source responds. 
Omissions in our Twitter list are inevitable—help us make it more complete by adding Canadian tweeters in the comments http://bit.ly/RfxFztJ-Source
@itsdgc Thanks David — we’re hoping it will be a living resource, so are more than happy to update. Any recommendations in particular?J-Source
And in turn, some provide suggestions.
@jsource Check out my (more-or-less-complete) list Canadian-health-reporters https://twitter.com/i/#!/picardonhealth/canadian-health-reportersAndré Picard
But others appear to take it personally. 
Shit, I thought I knew my beat. But @jsource says no. http://shar.es/5KDefScott Deveau
@scottdeveau @jsource Apparently I don’t know mine either. What’s @boyreporter’s beat?Mark Medley
Nothing like a journalism list to piss people off! RT @jsource 101 Canadian Twitter accounts http://bit.ly/W1u784Jeremy Barker
Constructive criticism is appreciated.
Who do you need to follow? 118 @nationalpost reporters and editors http://natpo.st/W1y6BG cc: @jsourceJeremy Barker
@PoppedCulture Thanks Jeremy — hoping it will be a living resource so am looking forward to updating this with everyone’s suggestions.J-Source
@jsource No problem. Lists are always interesting, for who gets on and who gets left off.Jeremy Barker
The suggestions keep coming.
@sarah_millar @jsource where are the data journos like @stuartathompson (aka the future of this biz)?Kaleigh Rogers
@jsource @sarah_millar Political reporters list very Hill-focused. I’d add @thekeenanwire, @ACarterglobal, @poitrasCBC, @JohnLorincPatrick Cain

Kudos

Great list! Proud to see our account made the cut MT @jsource 101+ Canadian journalism Twitter accounts to follow http://bit.ly/RfxFztThe Tyee
Nice job! RT @jsource: Updated with your suggestions: 101+ Canadian journalism Twitter accounts to follow http://bit.ly/RfxFzt #journalismKim Fox
@jsource great list. would love to see @AndreaWoo from the Globe & Mail added. great value in her tweetstreamMark_Hamilton
Great resource for journos & media rel’tns folk RT @jsource: Who do you need to follow? 101 Canadian Twitter accounts http://bit.ly/W1u784Mark Blevis
And the original, mislabelled “Top 101” branding stays. 
We’re one of @jsource’s Top 101 Twitter accounts to follow in Canadian journalism! Find out who else made the list here http://j-source.ca/node/9403Newspapers Canada
Great idea initially, I would say. 
Great idea to put this together. MT @jsource: Who do you need to follow? 101 Canadian (Journalism) Twitter accounts http://bit.ly/W1u784Tim Currie
What would McGuire say?
WOW. We ask for suggestions, and get just one reply. We publish a list and we get a flood of attention. @jsource: http://bit.ly/W1u784Mary McGuire

One of many updates

Updated with your suggestions: 101+ Canadian journalism Twitter accounts to follow http://bit.ly/RfxFztJ-Source

Quebec/francophone representation

Of note, the Canadian Journalism Project has both an anglophone (J-Source) and a francophone (ProjetJ) division that have their own respective editors-in-chief. 
Many note the absence of Quebecois/francophone tweeters on the list.
@jsource Also – whither Quebec journalist tweeps on list? I suggest @kick72, @perreaux, @ArianeKrol, @sidhartha_b, @monique_m. to start.Corinne Smith
Le site @jsource offre liste de 101 personnes en journalisme au Canada sur Twitter. Absence quasi-complète de francos #deuxsolitudesDaniel Leblanc
Which raises other issues.
@danlebla @ChantalHbert @jsource Important stories in Le Devoir and La Presse are routinely ignored by most Anglo journalistsNorman Spector
Some are highly critical. By this point, the intent of the list – a primer for j-students – is lost.
To read @jsource 101- list, francophones journalists/institutions/organizations are not part of Cdn journalism conversation. #mustbeboringchantal hébert
Hi guys! Is Quebec part of Canada? Doesn’t look like it when I look at your list @jsource http://bit.ly/RfxFztNathalie Collard
+99999 RT @NathalieCollard: Hi guys! Is Quebec part of Canada? Doesn’t look like it when I look at your list @jsource http://bit.ly/RfxFztAndrew Potter
@jsource nb:Twitter use has exploded in Quebec…an army of media types here have way more tweeps than some of most famous folks on ParlHillAlexander Panetta
When the francophone division of the Canadian Journalism Project is mentioned…
They should have published a joint list with @projetj then! @nspector4 @ChantalHbert @jsourceNathalie Collard
Suggestions for French tweeters continue to pour in, including from Akin – who was the only person to respond to the initial call-out. 
My "bilingual list" of Sun/TVA/QMI journos http://bit.ly/OU5CJW cc: @jsource @ChantalHbert @danleblaDavid Akin
Hey @jsource, some notable Gazette tweeters to follow: @monique_muise @CityHallReport @peggylcurran @andyriga @MacphersonGazAllison Hanes
J-Source continues to update the list.
Thanks for all of the suggestions to add to our Twitter list thus far. Another update coming soon.J-Source

The lighter side

A serious lack of francophone journalists on this @jsource list, but more importantly, a serious lack of ME. http://j-source.ca/node/9403Dan Delmar
National Post’s Steve Murray with a nomination in all CAPS. 
.@jsource Here’s another one for you: @NPSTEVE AS SUGGESTED BY @NPSTEVESteve Murray
Dear @jsource: In the interests of balance, how about a list of Cdn journos that are totally, drooling batshit crazy? That would be fun.CC
Meanwhile, the list keeps getting updated, at this point I wonder how large/comprehensive it will become. 
We apologize for the omission of Francophone journalists and are working on an update. Thank you to everyone who has given great suggestionsJ-Source
The lesson here? Never make lists. MT @jsource We apologize for the omission of Francophone journalists and are working on an update.Barry Hertz
Reporters who made the list as “Journalists who tweet about federal politics” weigh in, jokingly it appears. 
I just know my dad is going to ask why I didn’t make the section on @jsource for "reporters who really know their beats." #badreportcardSusan Delacourt
@SusanDelacourt Me too. We’re dilettantes!kady o’malley

Apologies and a note

Twitter list update with our apologies, an initial list of Francophone journalists and a praise for crowdsourcing http://bit.ly/RfxFztJ-Source
“Update 5:00 p.m.

We apologize for the initial omission of Francophone journalists and have updated the list below with a number of suggestions that were given to us on Twitter. The list was meant as a starting point for students studying journalism who might be new to Twitter, and everyone who took part in the conversation today has helped to make this a more valuable resource. The great thing about social media is that if you miss something, others will help fill in the blanks, as J-Source followers have done.

[node:ad]

If there is anything else we have missed, please add it in the comments below.”

One of the reactions.
@jsource you’re excused! ;)Bahador Zabihiyan

And at the end of the day?

A list to help Cdn j-students new to Twitter gets a reaction worth examining in a grad level j-seminar. RT @jsource: http://bit.ly/RfxFztMary McGuire
President of the Canadian Association of Journalists Hugo Rodrigues, who is on the list, says:
This @jsource list and reaction is very interesting— watching journos egos swell on listing or react in shock at not being listed.Hugo Rodrigues
Thanks for all of your Twitter suggestions—A full and comprehensive Francophone list is to come from @ProjetJ, which we will share as well.J-Source
On veut vos suggestions des meilleurs comptes twitter franco/QC sur le journalisme. On peut en trouver 100 nous aussi @jsource! GO!ProjetJ
Hopefully this call-out for suggestions goes better than the first. 

 

 

 

Eric Mark Do