Mathew Ingram Interview: SOTB 2009
Mathew Ingram is a technology journalist and currently Communities Editor for Toronto's Globe and Mail. He's also a veteran blogger (at mathewingram.com/work), which makes his take on journalism in the age of Twitter, social media policies for workers, and the future of journalism, blogging, and the web a must read.
You were in the forefront of print journalists who made extensive use of blogging and the web. Has your perspective on the role of journalist-bloggers changed over the years?
It has changed, to the extent that I used to think only certain bloggers would benefit from having blogs, and I now believe that the blogging process and publishing style and ethic are applicable to virtually every kind of reporter or journalist.
The Washington Post recently announced its “social media policy,” effectively restricting the ability of its staff to express opinions on the web. What’s your take on this policy, and how far should news organizations go in overseeing the social media publishing of its staff?
I think like most employee-behaviour policies, the Washington Post policy goes way too far in saying what staff shouldn't do with social media, but doesn't spend any time talking about what they should do. The reality is that most of what the Washington Post and other newspapers are afraid of can be taken care of by simply saying "don't be stupid online."
Do you believe that your blogging / online presence gains you access to people and stories that you would otherwise not be able to reach?
I think it definitely does. There's a much greater chance that I am going to be connected to someone who, even if they can't help me, probably is connected to someone who can.
What’s the best story that you’ve covered in the last year or so?
I actually haven't covered that many stories in the past year because I've been busy as the new Communities Editor for the Globe and Mail, which means training staff in social media, etc.
What’s your take on professional journalists who make money through their blogging activities?
I think provided those journalists aren't doing things that are in competition with their employer, they should be entitled to do whatever they want.
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