The New York Times appointed a new social media editor – Jennifer Preston – this week. On Twitter suggestions for how the NYT should use Twitter poured in. Here are ten of the best suggestions she received.
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When the “trusted” voices (many of whom never use social media in the way it’s intended) are continually bashing online communication, the C-levels have a difficult time hearing messages about innovation.

Honestly, Preston should have come in knowing how to use social media, not be asking people on twitter how to use it. But I’m not surprised that someone with no social media knowledge was hired for this position. NYT is mired in tradition that is, in many respects, aiding in its death. Maybe Preston will be able to catch on to social media, but I’m not going to expect anything necessarily innovative or truly social.

Replying to people is a new frontier for journalists. For years, journalists engaged in a one-way process, but the only way to really utilize social media properly is to engage people.

I see too many journalists not responding to people on Twitter. That’s a mistake. The whole point of social media is to be social. That should be the starting point for any journalist on social media.

Listen to your readers. Respond to comments on stories (and on Facebook and Twitter and MySpace). Be accessible. Your readers may be able to provide insight that you need to develop a better product.