Sky News steps up social media focus

Sky News is stepping up its social media activities ahead of this year's general election by widening the remit of its Twitter correspondent.

Ruth Barnett began using social media to follow news events and engage with the public in March last year.

She told Journalism.co.uk that she will now be focusing on politics for the Westminster bureau at Sky News.

Social media is likely to play an important role in the election, she claimed. Politicians have already been using it to get messages across to the public.

In the months ahead, websites like Twitter could become a key campaign battleground as well as a tool for opinion gathering and news distribution.

Ms Barnett said social media has become a "key element" of all news gathering and output at Sky News.

"From editors and presenters to correspondents, reporters, producers and researchers, it is now viewed as an integral part of all journalistic roles," she remarked.

And she said other news organisations are embracing it as well, which is good news for those seeking digital media jobs in this area.

In November, the BBC appointed its first social media editor. Alex Gubbay is responsible for pushing the adoption of user-generated content within the broadcaster's newsrooms.

Written by Gemma Roskell

For the latest new media, online and digital jobs from pfj, click here