Every second, there are 6,000 new tweets uploaded to the internet according to internetlivestats.com. By the next time you check your social media, a whole new page of content will be ready for your clicks. However, with so much information to sift through, finding what’s important can be a chore. Despite being a member of the generation with perhaps the most social media savvy to date, it has taken me a while to perfect my feed. Let’s take a look at five newsmakers and five journalists to follow in today’s crazy Twitter world.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk might simply have the weirdest Twitter for any mainstream celebrity or well-known billionaire. It’s an odd mix of Tesla and SpaceX news, scientific breakthroughs, and a whole lot of memes. However, it creates content. The internet feasts on anything mentioning Musk and his entrepreneurial quirkiness. I think he is a great person to follow not only for the news about his companies but also his opinions on recent events. In a pinch, a quote from Elon Musk’s reaction to economic struggles or natural disasters can attract attention and readers to an article. On top of it all, some of the memes are actually funny, but you might have to try a little bit.
Donald Trump
Do I even need an explanation? Even if you’re not following Donald Trump on Twitter, you’ve probably seen his tweets anyways. The 45th President of the United States’ guilty pleasure is his 280 characters. The nicknames, the accusations, and endless retweets are essential to follow in 2020. They draw so much attention in mainstream media and create controversies left and right. I feel, as a journalist, there’s always a story to be written about Trump’s latest tweet. I also believe his Twitter is an interesting change of perspective. The comments and retweets allow me to grasp how his followers and supporters feel about different issues in politics. Therefore, Donald Trump is an essential follow because he generates so much news in today’s world, and the opinions in the comments provide challenges to my biases. It might not all be true or accurate, but it sure is entertaining.
Adrian “Woj” Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Adrian Wojnarowski has become a Twitter star for all sports fans. He works for ESPN and Sportscenter as an NBA insider, but tweets stories and news from all four major U.S. sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL). The tweets that have made him famous, however, are his immediate and highly accurate trade releases. NBA, NFL, and MLB fans know him as the first and best source for the latest trade rumors and news. When “Woj” tweets about a team or player wanting a trade, the sports world goes crazy. ESPN, Bleacher Report, and all other major sports media companies treat Wojnarowski’s word as gold. I think he is an essential follow for both sports journalists and fans to get the latest news and rumors. He also records “The Woj Pod,” a podcast that analyzes the latest in the NBA. If sports journalism is your game, Adrian Wojnarowski is the insider that will help you win it all.
Donald Glover (@donaldglover)
Donald Glover is the closest thing to an artistic renaissance man in the 21st century. He is known for his script writing, social activism, and music under the name “Childish Gambino.” However, you would never know that from his Twitter. In fact, you wouldn’t know anything from his Twitter. It is completely empty besides one promotion for his recent work. So why follow him? Being a huge name in entertainment, it is a big deal when Glover tweets. Though they may be few and far in between, every tweet that Glover posts draws a lot of attention from both his fans and the whole internet. Glover is also very aware of his presence on social media, so his posts are always relevant and important. Though there might not be a plethora of content, Donald Glover certainly understands ‘quality over quantity.’
Bill McKibben (@billmckibben)
Bill McKibben is the founder of and a social activist for the organization 350.org which focused on environmental responsibility and sustainability. His twitter is extremely active with posts about how one can partake in the movement and be aware of one’s own impact on the environment. His calls to action take many forms, including organizing protests or strikes, reporting the latest facts, and linking important educational resources. He also exposes large corporations and structures boycotts against them for their practices. I think McKibben is an important voice in today’s media as he brings attention to the controversial subject of climate change. Compared to Greta Thunberg, he has a more focused feed and less personal content. I prefer following him instead of the 17-year-old Swede simply for his approach and poignancy. His tweets not only represent a personal concern of mine, but also are becoming more and more important with their calls to action.
Michael Moore (@MMFlint)
Michael Moore is an entertaining media entrepreneur with a powerful twitter presence. He tweets quite often and actively, often sharing stories outside of the mainstream media. He also calls other journalists for misinformation by referencing previous news, facts, or his own work. I think he is an essential follow because his work extends into numerous mediums–film, podcasts, and writing. He currently publishes a podcast, “Rumble,” that is quite entertaining and insightful in today’s politics. Michael Moore is a great addition to my feed. Though sometimes you might have to sort through the emphatic Bernie tweets, his mastery of multimedia allows one to engage with hidden stories and narratives in new light.
Emily Bell (@emilybell)
Emily Bell is a journalist and professor for the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. Her tweets are particularly relevant for this class as she follows the transforming world of digital news. Bell consistently posts tips for students and aspiring journalists as well as important developments in the digital sphere. She examines the ethics and excitement of policy, innovation, and media with regards to up-and-coming technology. I think Bell makes a great follow because she directs attention towards the problems of the future, helping students like me to think about issues that will be relevant in the workforce.
Melissa Lyttle (@melissalyttle)
Melissa Lyttle is a photojournalist with excellent pictures and references for browsing and using in articles. Her photos always have unique perspectives, such as her “Cowgirls of Color” project, and are visually stunning. She also routinely links the works of other photographers, especially when they pertain to recent events. For example, Lyttle recently posted a link to a full album of photos referencing the fight between the University of Kansas’ and Kansas State’s men’s basketball teams. I believe she is a nice change of pace for my feed, though her posts still aid my journalistic aspirations. Her amazing photos, along with the work of her friends, can inspire excellent stories or help create engaging multimedia experiences.
Ben Goldacre (@bengoldacre)
Ben Goldacre is a science journalist who keeps his Twitter filled with new and relevant papers and data. He works at the EBM data lab for Oxford University, constantly dealing with important and controversial studies from around the globe. I think he is an essential follow as he not only provides interesting insights but also exposes others for their misuse of facts. He is willing to expose politicians, journalists, and scientists alike when they misinterpret or blatantly skew new findings. He questions corporations, studies, and even himself to understand data as it is researched. Goldacre is an active and healthy voice for discovering more about the scientific world.
Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe)
Alexandra Jaffe is a journalist for the Associated Press that works specifically on the 2020 presidential election race. She has excellent articles and style as well as poignant statistics and examples to back herself up. I find her to be a great source for all things election. She puts herself a step ahead of the competition by being relatively unbiased and covering all candidates equally. She also takes pride in being a “lady reporter,” as it says in her bio, and has been particularly active in examining the gender aspect of the upcoming election. Her feminism and powerful insight allows for excellent commentary that I find essential in this year’s race.
Hugh T. Brooks 
Leave a comment