Random follow #78 - @southernscoop

The Otago Daily Times is an institution and way of life for people who live in the south of the South Island..  It is a newspaper that has been in existence longer than both I and today's random tweeter have been on the face of this plant.  A lot longer!  So working for the ODT does have some level of prestige that goes with it.

@southernscoop is one of the many who have been employed and yet is also one of the few.  In years gone past before the advent of the internet newspapers were big bustling communities of people committed to getting the news out to the public.  While the purpose of a newspaper hasn't changed the scale of those in ts employ has been downsized and the both the speed of news and its flavor are radically different than what they used to be.  And the internet and modern technology has meant over time that the numbers of people required to work in the press is now less.

The Allied Press Building, Dunedin.

@southernscoop doesn't give much away about his real life.  And that s fine because that is not the purpose of this blog.  What he does tweet though are short, sharp and snappy tidbits that either are often sideline stories to what is being told in the media.  For example - "Last night tgr English cricket team got some gear nicked; golf gear".  As a stand alone news story that one won't make the 6'o'closk news.  But it is still a story worthy of being talked about.

What I like about him is that he isn't afraid to tell you his opinion but he's not a soap box kind of person.  He will quite clearly state in 20 words or less his position.  And it is that snappiness I find really refreshing. 

And being a reporter he has a wide number of interest areas.   Such as sports "It is impossible for highlanders, warriors and black caps to win on same weekend #science".  Politics "Winston peters sounds more like Tom waits each year".  And fashion "To mark Dunedin fashion week I am sporting newspaper ink on my elbows".

In short @southernscoop is a tweeter that doesn't make big waves or cause much of a stir.  And that is mainly because I think the role of being a reporter is to tell the news.  Not make it.  What do you think?