“Facebook and Twitter are now pathways to news, but their role may not be as large as some have suggested. The population that uses these networks for news at all is still relatively small, especially the part that does so very often.”

In other words, using Twitter and Facebook to report isn’t a brilliant idea, but rather useful tools to help promote your already brilliant ideas. Here’s some raw data.

• Among those who access Twitter through their computer, 85 percent say that they “never” follow through to click and read stories that are shared.

• Among those who access Facebook through their computers, 53 percent say they “never follow up” on shared stories.

With the constant drumbeat of editors emphasizing the importance of social media, it’s a refreshing change of pace to remind journos that there is a large swath of the country that doesn’t know what the hell a Twitter is. The study reminds us that good, honest writing and reporting should be the focus of your work, not trying to make it go “viral.”

We can’t paint a clearer picture of this than looking at NBC’s Brian Williams. He’s the number one newsman in the country. He has close to a million followers on Twitter….. And he hasn’t sent out a single tweet.

Now excuse me while I tweet this. I bet this gets decent pickup.

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Washington Business Journal

The Times relaunched today “after more than a year of turmoil that included top management changes, job cuts and elimination of much of its coverage” the Journal reports. Back from the dead: the sports section and the paper’s home delivery service, which costs $65 a year. The paper now costs 50 cents at newsstands (it used to be $1) and an expanded website will someday come into existence, though the paper didn’t specify when.

Chairman Douglas D.M. Joo said in a statement: “The Washington Times will stay a reliable voice in Washington. There is still much work to be done.”

TWT‘s Jennifer Harper has her own story on the relaunch. She quotes the paper’s president, Thomas P. McDevitt: “Everyone who lives in our nation’s capital region deserves vibrant and intelligent debate on the critical issues we face today expressed through news and opinion that earns the trust of our readers.”

Harper describes the paper’s new organization: the A section will feature hard news and investigative reporting on world and national politics and business. The paper will also contain a stand-alone Commentary section, a Sports section complete with comics and a crossword puzzle, and a Life section with arts and culture coverage.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Liberal activist Cindy Sheehan has challenged White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to something called a “pee-off.” This comes on the heels of Gibbs telling The Hill‘s Sam Youngman that some on the left could use a “drug test.” Sheehan’s challenge brings new meaning to the phrase, “pissing match.” She announced her “news” in a statement.

“I will put my urine up against Gibbs any day, and in fact, will travel to Washington to give him a fresh and warm sample,” reports TWT‘s Jennifer Harper in the Inside the Beltway feature. “I actually think supporters of Obama should be tested for ‘Hopium’ in their urine, myself,” she continues. “Since Gibbs is a liar and a jerk, I will challenge him to a pee-off.”

Read the full story here.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Some exciting changes in the newsroom to announce:

*Jennifer Harper, whose coverage of media, polling and the American scene, has routinely graced our front page, is moving into the new role of columnist, where she will take over the day-to-day operations of one of our most famous offerings, Inside the Beltway, from John McCaslin. Under John’s stewardship the last two decades, Inside the Beltway became an unmistakable brand of The Washington Times and a must-read every morning _ both inside and outside the Beltway. John will continue to contribute to the column when he has news but otherwise is focusing fulltime on America’s Morning News, the new TWT radio show he co-hosts with Melanie Morgan that is rapidly spreading in popularity across the country. We certain Inside the Beltway won’t miss a beat under Jennifer’s able stewardship and that our readers will enjoy a fresh, new round of scintillating column coverage. Jennifer will also continue to cover some of the major spot
developments in media.

*Stephen Dinan, who has done a fantastic job anchoring our first-year Obama administration coverage as White House bureau chief, is being promoted to a new, doubled-barreled role of Deputy Assistant Managing Editor for Politics and Congressional Bureau Chief. We have all marveled at Stephen’s enterprising work, most recently displayed on yesterday’s front page with the stimulus exclusive he scored with S.A. Miller. We’re heading into a busy period in which much of Washington’s energy is shifting to the southeastern end of Pennsylvania Avenue, so we’ve asked Stephen to move along with the action. From his new perch, he’ll help Chris Dolan shape our coverage not only of the day-to-day happenings inside the Capitol but of the key policy issues that are dominating the American agenda from health care and taxes to foreign policy and national security.

*Matt Mosk, an accomplished political reporter and editor at The Washington Post, is moving to the Times to become our White House bureau chief. Matt’s countless scoops and his coverage of politics and money during the historic 2008 campaign were closely read and watched across the nation. In recent months, he has helped to supervise the Post’s coverage of the Virginia’s governor’s race as a senior editor. He’ll be joining us starting Aug. 1.

Please join me in congratulating Jennifer and Stephen on their moves and in welcoming Matt to our newsroom.

Regards,

John

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Good morning Washington.

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We’ve got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump…

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