Laurel has been creating and managing virtual communities for 20 years, teaching social media for the last 5 years and was named Industry Head, Social Media by Marketing Magazine (Australia) in 2010.
Forbes Magazine named her in the 50 Most Powerful Social Media Influencers in 2012 and she is also listed in the 100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter, as well as Number #12 AdAge Marketing and Media blog (Australia). More on the About page if interested.
I'm running small, one-day computer based social media classes in September 2011 - Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. If you know someone who would like to do a more advanced class, please let them know! Laurel Papworth @SilkCharm
Hello Laurel! I came straight here from your Twitter post! I maintain the Twitter account for the new Australian online magazine I edit, The Enthusiast, and have had my own (locked) personal account since 2007, when I was working for triple j’s magazine, jmag.
I use my own account for communicating with friends and close colleagues. I work from home, so Twitter gives me an immensely valuable feel of connectedness and collegiality. It’s also an outlet for those moments of frustration at work!
By contrast, I see the Enthusiast Twitter account as a combination of giving our readers a live feed of stories, short opinions and little tidbits, plus a kind of RSS feed for story tips and ideas. For me it’s very much a conversation, and I tend to follow people who, like me, are engaged with and curious about media and culture – fellow enthusiasts, if you will!
Wow! Thank you for feedback on how you use Twitter personally and professionally. It will be interesting to see how this evolves over time
Surprisingly few Fairfax colleagues on there, although I know our Technology journos monitor Twitter closely.
ReadWriteWeb has a great article on how journalists have been using Twitter: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/twitter_for_journalists.php
I think all journalists should Tweet. Most, through their training/experience, take to it like ducks to water. For example, one of my favorite follows is Paul Carr, a columnist for The Guardian – an irreverent yet eloquent tweeter.
Useful list Laurel, I recognize quite a few of those names on Twitter
Lucas Ng’s last blog post..lucasng: [Viral] The World’s Best Passenger Complaint Letter? (Sir Richard Branson calls author!): http://zi.ma/93355b
There are at least two journalists/editors on Twitter from Fairfax, I just can’t remember who they are -Roy someone? Ross? Roger? *gives up*. Thanks for RWW post
From the alexkidman, IT journalist. The other Kidman brother. Etc.
Because, heck, if I don’t promote me, who will?
Alex Kidman’s last blog post..Way back when I was just a little bitty boy…
Wow, I can’t believe you actually sat down and did this. Quite amazing. I use Twitter mostly as a research tool – I can’t believe I was stalling on it for so long. I also use twitter to generate traffic to my blog, and is why my numbers are always on the rise. I also have another twitter account to really hone in on important people in Digital – don’t wont to miss out, you know?!
Ursula Jefferson’s last blog post..Cadbury Dairy Milk: Eyebrow DancingIsn’t it hilarious?!…
Interesting list. I think you use “journalist” in a very broad sense there. Though, that shouldn’t surprise me should it…
@pocketmojo I freelance for the Age, APC, Australian Macworld and others. Apart from a little blog pimping i’m getting leads and keeping contact with PRs and other journos. It is our virtual water cooler.
Daniel Donahoo, you raise an interesting point, what is the defintion of a journalist? What point they become bloggers or maybe something else?
Great list Laurel
Simon T Small’s last blog post..Only %16 of companies have a process for social media
Yeah I know it’s confusing. I used “journalist” in a broad sense because it’s a grey area, and I don’t have the resources to interview people to confirm their education/status. Some blogger are now contributing on a regular basis to paid-for news sites. With no degree. Some degree-qualified journos are blogging, and trying out social media channels. Some did a journalism degree and ended up writing something else. So are you a journo if you have a journalism degree? If you are on the payroll? If you freelance and get paid occasionally? If you write for free for a mainstream publication? If you were a journalist and now do something else but stay connected… lecture in journalism for example.
It’s all much much clearer after a few glasses of wine
Thanks for including me Laurel. A really interesting list and I kind of like the broad use of ‘journalist’ (well hey, it allowed ME be included). I also got a nice flow of followers shortly after the post!
Journalism feels far more interesting to me these days than when I studied it. I think I got my internship at ABC Online because there were very few others in my degree who were interested in the web at that time (and it’s really not that long ago!) – most were keen on the tv, radio and print ‘streams’. I knew I couldn’t be a ‘real’ journalist when we were sent away to get a random story within 2 hours … and I just went to the pub and waited for some lonely bloke to talk to me – and then I returned to uni with a ‘feature’ story (and smelling like cheap wine – actually I think I drank bourbon and coke back then). Or maybe that is ‘real’ afterall?
I’ve seriously met some very interesting, inspiring, beautifully odd, highly amusing and smart people on Twitter who analyse, disperse and break news. Some will call that journalism and some will call it a range of other things.
I do like being ‘involved’ with journalism without actually being what anyone would regard as a ‘journalist’. Lucky, or I’d be on Media Watch quite a bit.
As usual Laurel, love your work.
Genevieve Robey’s last blog post..Spain slips into recession
Hi Laurel,
Awesome list. I’ve been thinking of doing this for a long time but…it’s obviously a lot of work!
That said, I have a few I can add:
@viralagent (John O’Brien, Courier Mail)
@lyndalcairns (Lyndal Cairns, Courier Mail)
@aramadge (Andrew Ramadge, news.com.au)
@diversionary (Simon Wright, news.com.au)
Simon is a designer, but if cartoonists are Journalists (big J), then shouldn’t the definition be expanded to include designers and coders?
Some others with locked accounts…will leave them in peace
and from Fairfax there was also @sleemol, who does still work at brisbanetimes.com.au, but only for another week or two before he heads off to PR.
Thanks for the link to my post
Dave’s last blog post..iPhone camera – breaking news nets pro photographer rates
Hi there! I just found your article through a Twitter link. I had no idea I would make a list like this!
While I am a working journalist, Twitter for me is mostly just another social networking/promotion platform for me. I use it mostly just to bang on about myself, which, as I always maintain, is the only subject I really know anything much about.
I work in radio, so there’s less of an ability to link to articles I might have written. I certainly will do that when I do some freelance writing, but I haven’t had any for a few months (since before I set up Twitter). I do use it to point to my blog http://www.girlclumsy.com.
I am heavily involved in theatre on the side (yes, tragic wannabe actor), and I do use Twitter to promote my shows. I also set up an account for my theatre http://www.twitter.com/artstheatre, which I hope to explore further as a promotional tool.
Now that you’ve included me here, I feel I need to do more to appear a “proper” journalist!!
Cheers, Natalie.
Girl Clumsy’s last blog post..I Have a Flag
@genrobey hon, anyone who can slip down to the pub when they are supposed to be doing a story, is, by definition, a journalist.
The fact that you did it waaaay back at Uni, proves you have newsprint in your veins. Pixelprint. Whatevs.
Wish @sleemol the best for me
@Dave what is it with journalists that they leave the world of impartiality and slip into PR spin? o.O Hack to flack.
@girlclumsy I like your name the bestest
Guys, no designers or coders, soz
. I guess I was looking for people who are influencers. So a cartoonist can source the idea for a story on Twitter, present it to their non-Twitter audience. Ex journos now in PR can sense a good story coming out of Twitter and freelance it or give it to a friendly journo. yeah yeah i know, a bit woolly. 
I am not a troublemaker!
Hi Laurel,
Thanks for including me, but I should note that I’m not involved with Lifehacker or Crikey anymore. I’m a freelancer all the way.
Sarah Stokely’s last blog post..Upcoming class for student editors at NEWS09
I’m another journo on twitter (@dizzyparenting). I embraced it some time ago. I love that twitter is sometimes the first place for news to filter through; I also use it for networking and to point people towards my blogs or stories I’ve written. Often other users will point me to interesting blogs or news stories that then give me an idea for a story. And as I work from home, it’s a great way to feel part of a community – chat, bitch, gossip, or sound off – while still working from home.
dizzymum’s last blog post..Eight is enough
Hat tip… a lot of work went into this. Well done.
Mark’s last blog post..iamarkus: @Paultonich Welcome to twitter champion. Good to see.
John Lacey a Journalist?
The thought that you guys actually think he’s capable of doing Journalism is hysterical
Hi Laurel
Love the list!
Just wanted to point out that #26: @thetowncrier / Jason Whittaker doesn’t work for ABC Online. Though, I can’t say where he works.
@thetowncrier is an editor at APC magazines. As he likes to say, he works “at a bunch of magazines you’ve never heard of”
Also, I was very suprised to see @journerdism’s Will Sullivan on this list. I asked him about it, and he said he’s worked in Australia before, but isn’t Australian.
Dave Earley’s last blog post..iPhone camera – breaking news nets pro photographer rates
Jason Whittaker did work at ABC Online – I must’ve uncovered an ancient manuscript
His uptodate (one assumes) profile mentions ABC Online and importanceofideas – By day (and many nights and weekends) I’m a part-time writer and full-time boss of a suite of publications at Brisbane-based Trader Business Media, a division of ACP Magazines and part of the mighty (if fairly bankrupt) PBL Media. As Managing Editor I directly edit and oversee the production of half a dozen fiercely issues-based monthly and one-shot national titles for key business markets, along with daily news websites, newsletters and other multi-media content.
Journerdism – not sure who told me he was Australian. Oops,he’s not but I just saw his profile and it said he worked at
# The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia)
# The Age (Melbourne, Australia)
# The Newcastle Herald (Newcastle, Australia)
Can we claim him as an Aussie anyway? Please?
What did I say about assuming? it makes an ass and an uming. Heh.
[...] Australian Journalists on Twitter | Laurel Papworth – Social Network Strategy: Ms @SilkCharm has been compiling a list as indicated, with a very wide interpretation of “journalist”. Useful. [...]
Laurel,
I’m writing this at 4.30am on a Tuesday morning finishing off a feature for our print magazine. I’m not sure if that makes me more journaist or blogger, or perhaps just plain idiot. But thanks for the inclusion all the same – hopefully this will be something that you will revise regularly with updated stats (perhaps get an intern on-board in turn journo style?).
You also could almost call yourself a journalist now by the amount of research you put in for this! *About to do mass follow of people I don’t already have*
Perhaps journalism is the new LGBT community, in a way that the lines are so blurred that it just comes down to you being who you say you are and who you want to be.
If you want to be an editor, writer or blogger then no one is stopping you from saying you are one. Hell, you can even call yourself a ‘published author’… but this doesn’t mean you are any good at the craft!
Kate Kendall’s last blog post..We want YOU – join the Australian WOMM!
^ Can’t find where to edit my post – that was obviously supposed to be ‘journalist’.
Kate Kendall’s last blog post..We want YOU – join the Australian WOMM!
[...] Comments Australian Journalists on Twitter | Laurel Papworth- Social Network Strategy on Twitter GSpot quotient – TweetGQSilkCharm on sorry @rogerchristie but again, fuck tha [...]
Great list. I’ve got some following to do! I’m an associate editor at Gizmag who has only recently started with Twitter: http://twitter.com/imtimhanlon
Tim Hanlon @imtimhanlon’s last blog post..Rebuilding the face: medicine meets engineering at the beginning of an industrial revolution
How does Malcolm Turnbull factor into a list of journalists… especially in number one place? I know he did some journalism in the early 80s when he was at uni (according to Wikipedia at least) but he’s been in politics an awfully long time.
Anyway, just shamelessly adding myself to the list
Dan Warne – http://twitter.com/danwarne
Online editor at APCMag.com
Contributor Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Qantas Magazine
Dan Warne’s last blog post..Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of Shit That Doesn’t Fucking Work
It amused me that Malcolm was once a Political editor. His grasp of Press-y type stuff becomes clear then.
#62 Jacqui Munn – no longer exists
http://twitter.com/jacquimunn
a few broken links as well
… the ephemeral nature of social content, I’m afraid. I guess Jacqui ran off and hid under another name?
I do still exist, but changed user name to @tohbee
Hi Laurel,
I loved this list and posted a link to it our blog, but was wondering if you knew of a similiar list for journos in NZ? I note that you say some on the list are NZ, but can’t seem to single them out…?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Kylie
Kylie Lewis’s last blog post..Cool spotting: 3 great campaigns
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These lists are great. I also wondered about Big Mal. But, heck, I follow him out of professional (PR) interest. What about a list for PR types (hey, such as me)? @prlab
PS: I did work on metro dailies for 17 years.
You are a research POWERHOUSE Laurel! Glad I stumbled across this; only did so because I was doing my twice-a-year ‘Google my own name’ investigation.
I’d just like to share what I truly love about Twitter, which is how it makes me feel connected as a sole trader working in a home office.
I left ACP back in 2002 to go freelance and I remember the thing I missed immediately was not being able to shout out to the office, “can anyone remember the name of that…” OR “does anyone know what the…”.
Of course there was that one time at RALPH magazine (circa 99′) where my call for colleague help did not turn out so well. I was still a cadet journalist back then and made the mistake – when struggling to write an intro – of turning to the gang and saying, “Can you guys just throw some stuff at me…”. Everything from pens, back issues of RALPH and even a stapler were thrown toward me. Ahh, those were the good old days!
So, yeah, I love that Twitter is like the work buddies I don’t have.
Carlee Potter’s last blog post..“Leisure Surfing” at Work Gets Tick of Approval
Interesting that this list includes people who aren’t journalists but may have been for 5 minutes 20 years ago, but excludes a more inclusive definition of journalism. Not like you Laurel.
Duncan Riley’s last blog post..American Idol: Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai out, Adam Lambert safe
This post was written when it wasn’t possible to search bios and when the only other list of Australian Journalists on Twitter had 4 names on it. I manually went through every journalists followings, looking for anything that might imply a journo – they don’t put it in their bio. Many at the time weren’t on Twitter that now are, especially since the bushfires a few months later. Not sure what you wanted from me Duncan, it was exhaustive at the time… with most of the list still freelancing at least…
Great job Laurel, thanks so much for posting this.
A few more, not sure if they are within the existing list…?!
@cowspanker David Higgins Editor news.com.au
@colgo Paul Colgan Deputy Editor news.com.au
@chelsea_mes Chelsea Mes business reporter
@edmundtadros Edmund Tadros business editor
@penbo David Penberthy former editor of Daily Telegraph, now heading up new project for News Ltd, The Punch.
@overingtonc Caroline Overington
@_tors Tory Maguire Daily Telegraph
@tabloidterror Ros Reine Sunday Telegraph gossip columnist
@scottpape Scott Pape financial columnist and blogger
@brandstand Julian Lee media and marketing news
@annabelcrabb Annabel Crabb
@ashermoses Asher Moses technology journalist
@aclennell Andrew Clennell state political editor
@paulwiggins Paul Wiggins editor and longtime Australian content manager at Testy Copy Editors
@matthew_hall Matthew Hall Sun Herald blogger
@kuns Mike van Niekirk editor-in-chief online – fairfax media
@abcmarkscott Mark Scott managing director
@mishaketch Misha Ketch Media Watch journalist
@leighsales Leigh Sales ABC Lateline presenter
@Peter_F_Ryan Peter Ryan ABC Business editor
Regards
Karalee
Or, alternatively, you could link to the post where those names were copied from
http://earleyedition.com/2009/04/22/australias-top-100-journalists-and-news-media-people-on-twitter/
Thanks Dave – they were forwarded to me via email with no reference. More than happy to acknowledge original sources such as yours for those additional names.
Karalee_’s last blog post..karalee_: opinion needed! colleague thinking of AMI’s SM applications for business course. Anyone done it? Is it worth it? is there a better one?
@mwot http://is.gd/LjaB there was another (longer) I came across but cant source it now – google/tweet about it u shld find.
@earleyedition @aujournos Yes AU journo list that I know of is http://bit.ly/tSyZH
(by @silkcharm)
RT @SilkCharm 40 Laurel Papworth- Social Network Strategy » Blog Archive 61 » Australian Journa… http://tinyurl.com/dgner7
RT @SilkCharm 40 Laurel Papworth- Social Network Strategy » Blog Archive 61 » Australian Journa… http://tinyurl.com/dgner7
Journo Twitter newbies like @grandallegro and @mimmette should start here http://bit.ly/tSyZH
Pollytics, if only for the qanda goodness, deserves a 10.
[...] tweeters now ordered by a Gary algorithm (made famous on Twitter Agency and Laurel’s post of Australian Journalists on twitter), which changes the landscape significantly. Reproduced from my little contribution to [...]
[twitter] Australian Journalists on Twitter | Laurel Papworth- Online Community Strategy http://bit.ly/55fcU4
Australian Journalists on Twitter | Laurel Papworth- Online Community Strategy http://bit.ly/6pXnFE
Australian Journalists on Twitter http://bit.ly/6vkOn5
@ahennell (Emma) Here's a list of OZ journos on Twitter http://bit.ly/G0ZI and NZ journos are here http://bit.ly/bfAael #smoz
List of Australian journalists who are on Twitter – http://bit.ly/bBGSKh
Latest research (verified, academic) shows 71% of Twitter messages are ignored. Read it in PR research journal (Nov).
Hi Laurel. I’m trying to look for an email address for Mr John Kidman, formerly a journalist at Sun Herald/Sydney Morning Herald. Hope you’re able to assist me. Thanks in advance.