Twitter is one vehicle changing the face of news today. {Thanks, AP}

Over the course of these last several weeks a lot of attention has been paid to Twitter and how it has changed how the media reports on certain events from the protests and demonstrations following Iran’s disputed presidential election to the death of celebrities such as Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays.

Greater use of new media tools by “legitimate” news outlets goes to show a desire to participate in interactive journalism.

Yes, believe it or not the consumers of news are the very ones impacting how the news is in fact covered from simply responding to the content offered, or contributing content of their own, the era of the citizen journalist is here to stay.

An interesting article chronicles the takeover of Twitter by the viewers of  2009 BET Awards show.

The post raises an important issue, contributions by groups frequently unrepresented when it comes to citizen journalism, could have unexpected consequences.

So how do you ensure that there is diversity amongst citizen journalists when the same question has been posed to the traditional media for so long?

Well, not literally. But to hear freelance music critic Christopher R. Weingarten tell it, it soon will kill the business of music criticism. Watch his recent rant (NSFW for language only) at the 140 Characters Conference and let us know what you think.

TOPIC #2: Can writers who do NOT use Social Media survive the new journalism climate?

Love_Is_Dope: Absolutely not. Print is obviously dying. You have to be on that new -ish

thembithembi: My answer wasn’t much of a writer’s word, but social media is like the internet itself or the telephone. ppl who don’t will die out

russellnichols: Truth be told, I tried to avoid it for a minute. Still don’t have a FB. Just got on Twitter. Definitely necessary

tlawrites: I think it depends if you are a newbie or an established writer and what audience you are trying to attract

mbarone: Any writer, or human in general, should have an awareness and comfort with today’s new media…. but, on the flipside, I wouldn’t check if a writer pitching me has a Twitter or Facebook profile. Just strong writing clips

allaboutgeorge: Wikipedia says social media is “content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies …”

aliyasking: I mean established writers. New writers have no choice. But if you’ve been in the game, can you survive w/o social media? I met Terry McMillian last weekend. I was with @ToureX at a conference in Philly. @tourex said, “are you on Twitter?” Terry said NO

lyneka: Unfortunately, their future is at stake b/c the years you spend at XYZ organization shunning social media will affect you

allaboutgeorge: If social media creators and participants are fish (heh, from plankton to whales), the Web is the ocean

lyneka : I love love social media –just not so sure writers need a twitter or fb account. They do need web experience, tho.

aliyasking: Writers NEED to have a Facebook/Twitter account. Full stop.

bmockaveli: I don’t know, but for certain social media can’t survive without established writers

Journalisticks: Some journos confuse having an online presence with being naked on the web. Have a website/resume doesn’t have to be a diary. Perhaps older/established journos think this is the case and want to remain a fly on the wall.

tlawrites: I think new writers definitely have to incorporate it into their own self promotion. Thats what people look for.

Love_Is_Dope: Established writers don’t need Twitter et al so much b/c they have a brand, but mid-level and new writers HAVE TO HAVE IT

aliyasking: I maintain that even established writers need to get on board. Their brand becomes stale w/o social media.

Journalisticks: If used right, Twitter can showcase an established journos personality. Why not learn what makes them tick?

Journalisticks: Here are some established journos you should follow @dreamhampton @killiterati @faraichideya @nelsongeorge @tourex @harryallen

rlnave: I look for my favorite writers in magazines and library shelves, not Facebook.

lyneka: Twitter, I’ve discovered can have a negative affect because there are def. some writers I give the side eye due to twitter.

mbarone: amen to that, there’s nothing more disheartening than reading some lame Tweets from writers I respect

ToureX: I was told by an author that when Barnes & Noble is considering what books to feature they look at how many friends you have on FB.

bmockaveli: That said, I’m about to seriously pad my FB with thousands of fake friends so I can get my book in BarnesNobles

ToureX: As a writer building a brand I suggest accepting every FB friend request you can stomach.

ToureX: One way Twitter is great for writers is in finding sources. On my last story I asked Twitter who wants to be intv’d & found lots.

Journalisticks: DO YOU THINK W.E.B. DUBOIS, ZORA NEAL THURSTON, ED BRADLEY, LANGSTON HUGHES OR JAMES BALDWIN WOULD BE ON FB/TWITTER?

rlnave: If Ellison were on social media, do you think he’d make his profile…invisible?

russellnichols: Langston Hughes would be on Twitter because he liked to keep it Simple.

AquaAHH: Langston and Zora would be squabbling on Twitter and Facebook for sure.

Love_Is_Dope: Zora would def be on FB, Twitter and everything else. She was a folklorist. She would soak up the language

Journalisticks: LET’S FACE IT. MOST ESTABLISHED JOURNOS WITH YEARS IN THE GAME DO NOT HAVE TO GET ON THE WEB, THEY CAN TURN IN STORIES VIA FAX

With media fast tracking from print to digital, maybe journalists should seriously consider getting their technology weight up. Print journalists, are you ready for the digital world?