Tweeting the news

Journalism is not a dying industry. It is a changing industry, for sure, but it is not dying.

I don't know how many times I've said that to friends, family or new acquaintances in the past few months. They ask if I'm looking for a new job yet, and I laugh sarcastically, but sweetly and tell them, "No. I'm looking at how my job is going to change."

And change it does.

The Southeast Missourian is on Facebook, where we post stories and links and breaking news. We have a text alert service that sends traffic updates, sports scores, headlines and dozens of other things you can sign up for at semissourian.com/textalerts. We have e-mail newsletters for school news, blog alerts, and morning and afternoon updates.

Some may say the industry is dying. Others may say we latch on to any new social media or networking site or new technology.

We do evaluate the benefits to our readers before we jump onto any bandwagon. And if there seems to be an audience, we'll change or add to our news-delivery format.

Change is the only constant in the newsroom. That, and cynicism.

The most recent change is Twitter. The Southeast Missourian and each of its reporters signed up for Twitter months ago, and yes, readers, fans and followers, SE Live is on Twitter, too.

It's twitterific.

SE Live has had a Twitter account for several months.

We even have followers -- 22 at last count. Those loyal followers signed up and never read a single tweet (because up until this week, SE Live had never written a single tweet).

That will all change.

We'll post story teasers -- if you followed SE Live you would've known Wednesday that we had a story about "Sculpture on the Green" and a fundraising photography exhibit in the Crowe Gallery. And short entertainment newsbites and reminders through the week, like Bruce Zimmerman opening the music season for River Ridge Winery on Saturday or the Underberg House Concert on Sunday or music festival lineup releases, etc. etc. etc. Stay up-to-date with what's happening via @selive.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to lace up and catch that bandwagon.