More thoughts on my Twitter list

Last night I published a set of lists that attempted to measure how Australian media people use Twitter. I'm pleased that most feedback has been that it made for fascinating reading. But I should point out the data has a fundamentally flawed methodology that undermines attempts to draw too much meaning from it.

Dave Earley’s original list was never meant to be a conclusive directory and I did not include everyone from it. But it is the best of its kind I know of. At the bottom of this page is a list of all the people I did include in yesterday's survey. Though it is skewered towards people involved in media (both old and new), the list is an artificial distinction. Because in Twitter, everyone is a publisher and therefore a defacto media person.

My data set was limited to a Brisbane-based slant of a cross-section of media occupations that often only awkwardly relate to journalism. Without buying into the larger question of what is a journalist, there are many people now on the list that probably should not be there plus there are many more not on the list that probably should be there. So the data cannot be used to draw any conclusions based on occupation.

Nor can it be used to support any assumptions across time. The data was only valid at late Sunday and early Monday this week. Numbers of followings, followers and tweets change all the time and probably not at a constant rate. A tool to take the hardness out of measuring would be useful to see how that varies over time.

Given the limitations of the data I had, my only other observation tonight is that the best way to get extremely number of followers (should you so desire) would appear to be follow a similarly large number yourself.

I should also note I have not used any data that was not already in the public domain. My data spreadsheet as of Sunday night is available on request.

Here is the list of 311 people in my survey sorted in alphabetical order by Twitter id. Btw - it is not 313 as I reported yesterday – there were two duplicates. I have also included real names if not obvious from Twitter id but is listed elsewhere in the person's profile.

_leo_s Leo Shanahan
_tors tory maguire
aapbrisbane Angela Harper
abcmarkscott Mark Scott
AClennell Andrew Clennell
adamandjones adam jones
adambspencer
AdamJoseph1 Adam Joseph
AdrianMusolino
agitated Chris Agiasotis
Ajdicko
ajwight
AlHaigh Alistair Haigh
alexkidman
alisonsandy
amstrad Darren Burden
AndrewFenton
andrewjcrook
AnnabelCrabb
annacaldwell Anna Caldwell
Annacico Anna Cicognani
Aramadge Andrew Ramadge
arjun_aus Arjun Ramachandran
ArlieDouglas Arlie Douglas
Artsjourno Nicholas Pickard
AsherMoses
askbossy Kate de Brito
Awrd Andrew Davies
Aysha Aysha Leo
barrysaunders
Bartman6 Chris Bartlett
Bengrubb
benhourigan
bernardkeane
BHaverty Brian Haverty
bigtruck Daniel Sankey
bjj4me Rinaldo De Paolis
brandstand Julian Lee
brizbands Candice Bridger
brontegirl Kimberley Porteous
bronwen Bronwen Clune
bruceyeah Bruce Collier
Bruff Nick Broughall
Bryceives Bryce Ives
buck_ers Brian Buchanan
c41 Pete Ottery
CalebCluff
cameronreilly
cankles Brendon Chase
carlosmonteiro
cate3221 cate swannell
ccoaster2002 ccoaster2002
cecilialindgren
charispalmer
chelsea_mes
chesterrod
chris_deal chris deal
Chris_Griffith
ChrisBerg
ChrisRhyss Chris Rhyss Edwards
claireorourke claireorourke
cmrosemary rosemary odgers
Colgo paul colgan
colvinius Mark Colvin
coogeecoup Alison Godfrey
cowspanker David Higgins
csimps0n Campbell Simpson
curious_scribe glenda kwek
DailePepper
DaleMcCarthy
Danwalsh
danwarne
david_heath
Debritz Brett Debritz
Debsm Debs Majumdar
dellvink Amanda Dell
derekbarry me!
diversionary Simon Wright
djackmanson David Jackmanson
djfcm David Fagan
dlelkind Debbie Elkind
Dnazaroff diane nazaroff
dobes Chris Duckett
doctorkarl Karl Kruzeniski
dr_nic Nic Healey
dt_downunder Daniel Taylor
duncanriley
Dwabriz Dennis Atkins
dylanmcevoy
earleyedition Dave Earley
Ebaral Edward Baral
edmundtadros
Eliotfish
emilyeverywhere Emily Jade O'Keeffe
engalvo Nick Galvin
engochick Suzanne Tindal
Ericdot Eric Auld
Faldo david field
farlster Edwina Farley
FelicityH FelicityHetherington
FelicityMoore Felicity Moore
firstdogonmoon
Foodiegirl Wendy Hall
Foraggio Toby Forage
franmolloy
frombecca Rebecca Varidel
geerob andrew hornery
Genrobey
GeorgiaWaters
Gogaino
grahamcairns
Grahamy Graham Young
greenj Jonathan Green
gusworldau Angus Kidman
guymosel
harleyd arley Dennett
Heidi75 Heidi Hewkins
heraldsunscoop Megan Miller
hornery andrew hornery
Hughjm Hugh Martin
Huntzie Andrew Hunter
idrinktang Daniel Tang
IMacri Irena Macri
imtimhanlon tim hanlon
Ironsider robin ironside
jason_a_w Jason Wilson
Jcmc Jessica Crouch
Jeanti Jeanti St Clair
JenBennett
jendudley Jen Dudley
jenniferest
jensent Tony Jensen
jessmcguire
jg_rat John Grey
JoannaSavill
jodieobrien jodie o'brien
Joe_Hildebrand
JoelGibson
JohnBirmingham
johnlacey
johnstonec craig johnstone
jonty98 Jonathan Este
julie_posetti
justiniannews Richard Ackland
jvdouglas
kalgoorliekid Nick Rynne
KarlSikora
kateedwards
katekendall
katherinefeeney
Katrinafox
kerryfinch
kerryn_manifold
kingleonard Leonard King
korenhelbig
Landeryou Andrew Landeryou
landunn Ann Lund
LeighSales
LeonGettler
letterstoharry Charlie Brewer
liamphillips liamphillips
lilhack melissa singer
LincolnArcher
LisaYallamas Lisa Yallamas
loopymedia Lucy Robertson
LucasNg
lucethoughts Lucy Carter
LucyjK Lucy Kippist
LukeRoyes Luke Royes
lyndalcairns Lyndal Cairns
madeinmelbourne
marcfennell
margaretsimons
MariekeHardy
markhjones
marshallheald
matthew_hall
MattPinkney
Mcjp Matthew JC. Powell
MClayfield Matthew Clayfield
meadea amanda meade
mediahaze Rachael Bolton
mediahunter Craig Wilson
melbris Melanie Christiansen
Melinashanks Melina Cruickshank
mfantini
mgawenda Michael Gawenda
MGorey Michael Gorey
miafreedman
MichaelLund
michaelturtle
MickWray11 Mick Wray
MiguelDSouza
mikedobbie
mikeh101 Mike Hanley
Mikerism101 mike bennie
miketomalaris Michael Tomalaris
mishaketch Misha Ketchell
mumbrella Tim Burrowes
musojourno Denis Semchenko
MWikramanayake Marisa Wikramanayake
MyfWarhurst
MylesWearring
nadine_lee
nataschamirosch
natecochrane
natgregg Natalie Gregg
newsbee Lanai Vasek
newsed Simon Holt
newsian Chris Rhyss Edwards
newslab Charles brewer
NicMacBean
nicolehaddow
Nikjiljn Nikhil Jain
nocreditbob Mike Robson
osbornep Paul Osborne
Overingtonc Caroline Overington
Owenjay Owen Jacques
ozy1962 Mike Osborne
patricklion
paulajoye
paulhansford
paulverhoeven
PaulWiggins
paulzucker
penbo David Penberthy
Peter_F_Ryan
PeteWallis
philliprsmith
pocketmojo Anthony Caruana
pollytics Possum
PoppyMasselos
princessfluffy Nikki Bradley
rachelhills
randolphramsay
Rbbrown Ruth Brown
Readfearn Graham Readfearn
renailemay
Renbarau Renee Barnes
rgcooke Richard Cooke
riskybusiness Patrick Gray
rod3000 Rod McGuinness
RodPeno
rodsavage
RonErdos
RosieFantail
Rosieryan
rossprowd
roulla Roulla Yiacoumi
Rynobi Ryan Egan
s_bridges Scott Bridges
sally_jackson
sam_ikin
SarahElks
sarahprout
Sclepj simon jones
scottjmcasey Scott Casey
ScottPape
screelman Sarah Creelman
seamus seamus byrne
secretshq Michelle Matthews
Sethyates
Shalailah Shalailah Medhora
Shopblog Paddy Hintz
SimonThomsen
snoozen susan hetherington
sonya_gee
sophblack Sophie Black
sraquinn Stephen Quinn
ssharwood simon sharwood
stephenmayne stephenmayne
stilgherrian
suegcb ate swannell
SuzanneCarbone
swandives Georgina Swan
sydfilmfestival Charlie Brewer
tabloidterror ros reines
Tanwatt Majella Watt
tara_g Tara Grimshaw
taylordane75 Lee Taylor
tburton
TerryO'Connor
The_Enthusiast
theburgerman John Bergin
thejobblog
themediapod Ross Monaghan
therealrocky123 Neale Maynard
thetowncrier Jason Whittaker
tim_coronel tim_coronel
timdunlop
tobiasziegler
tomatom ed charles
tonyblackie
tonywalker
trentenda james harris
triplejdools Scott Dooley
triplejtheking Richard Kingsmill
triplejtvdoctor Lindsay McDougall
troy_martinAU Troy Martin
UrsulaHeger
Valentine702 James Valentine
valeriekhoo
valerioveo
Vidiva Vida Redoblado
VijayKhurana
Viralagent John O'Brien
vquinn valens quinn
Warlach
wendy_hogan
wolfie_rankin
zarabee Zara Broomhead

Half way house

I’m currently half way through an 18 month master’s of journalism at QUT. I am actually slightly over the exact half-way mark as the mid-term break that arrives next week is strangely week 11 out of 14 (something very Irish about that!). Mine is a three semester course-work degree, so the end result will not be treated as highly as if it were a research masters. However a third of my work is thesis. That will be due in late May 2010 and I want that to be treated and examined as if it were a full research thesis. (pic: QUT Kelvin Grove "Education A Block Building" by Derek Barry)

Though I’ve yet to nail down a decent journalism-related research question for the thesis, I have chosen to broadly situate the study within blogs and their place in the world, But whatever the question will eventually be (and I’ll need to get that sorted by the end of this year) it makes sense to discuss it within the context of my own blogging. Reflective analysis means applying an honest blowtorch to my own work prior to making any grand statements about the wider world.

So this post is the first attempt to publicly verbalise the journey. I will be trying to do this on a weekly basis between now and June 2010 (though there might be a few weeks off between semesters). It will be as open and self-critical as I can make it. This won’t be easy - I made the decision to discuss blogs back in February and for reasons I cannot yet easily explain I’ve been dragging my heels on mentioning it in my own blog.

Or blogs plural. I currently spend several hours every day running three blogs (or two and a half to be more accurate). I maintain two versions of Woolly Days. The original started on Blogger in September 2005 and a new one started on Wordpress in February this year. The two are almost exactly alike in article content. My third site is Irish I’s which I started in June 2007 to post jokes, pics, and oddball stories I stumble upon on a daily basis. Irish I’s is also on blogger (though is possibly an ideal candidate to move to a newer platform such as Posterous).

But Woolly Days is my major preoccupation and I can often spend four to six hours a day putting to a post together. I am currently persisting with two versions of Woolly Days because I cannot decide which one to go one with. I like the more professional look of WordPress Woolly Days but I’m still fond of Blogger Woolly Days on the Google-owned platform that gave me a public voice four years ago. So I put up with double-entry bookkeeping (though typographical errors fixed up subsequently in one are not necessarily retrofitted to the other). If I were unsentimental I should be seriously considering leave the Woolly Days brand behind and start blogging under the label of Derek Barry or else at some other “Days”. This might well happen when I physically leave Wooloowin (where I’ve lived since 2004).

I don’t think it would greatly matter wherever I publish next because it is the blogging form that matters not the brand. It is as a blogger I think I am establishing an authentic, articulate and unorthodox voice that is slowly getting recognition in the wider community.

That pleases me because blogging is important. Don’t be deceived by the claims that it is so 2004. The fact that the early adopters have moved on means is that it is a maturing product with tens of millions of active exponents. These people blog because it gives them as a long-form and free platform of communication on the Internet. If democracy could be defined as the freedom to express your opinion widely, then the rise of the blog is a good thing. For me that means over a thousand articles and a million words over four years at a rate of six or more posts a week.

So is anyone listening to this widespread distribution of opinion, is anyone paying attention? Who is reading my million words?

To answer these questions, I need to analyse some audience metrics for my blogs.
After 20 days this month (approx 3 weeks), my sites have received the following number of hits (in brackets number of hits a day)
Woolly Days Blogger 32, 927 = average 1,646 hits a day
Irish I’s 1, 319 = average 66 hits a day
Woolly Days Wordpress 378 = average 19 hits a day.
For a grand total of 34, 624 at an average of 1,731 hits a day.

Hits aren’t humans and I don’t have breakdown of hits to visits on a monthly basis. However on a daily basis the number of visits averages between 65 and 90 percent of the hits total. If we go with the lowest figure of 65 percent that would mean an average total of 1,125 human visitors come to my blogs every day in September 2009. The actual figure that read my work is higher than that as Woolly Days blog content is also available to read in Facebook (to 94 people) and all are available as RSS feeds (to 42 subscribers on Google Reader and an unknown number on other RSS readers). But lets assume however this number is low and adds merely another 75 or so visitors, to give a nice round total number of 1,200.

This means I am talking to about twelve hundred people every day. But nowhere near this total are listening or indeed reading the same material. Far fewer still are actually talking back, but I might have to save the analysis on that for a later time. Because I wanted to concentrate on how people get to my site now. Why, when there are tens of millions of blogs to go to, do they come to mine?

90 percent of my traffic arrives serendipitously – well, its pleasantly surprising for me, anyway. But most of these people aren’t interested in Woolly Days at all. Four out of every five people come from Google Images (and increasingly Bing). They’ve clicked on the picture and may or may not stay to read the text in the lower pane. I’m reasonably high in a surprising number of Google image searches in my increasingly long tail. The most popular page at the moment on Woolly Days is a 2006 article on Magna Carta. For reasons entirely unknown to me, it is currently number in Google Images for that search.

I thank Google for their algorithms but it is the one in five that don’t come for the picture that are most likely to pay attention to the words. Half of these come from Google searches (10 percent of the entire total). These searchers usually do not hang around for long once they found an answer (or a lack of answer) to the question they have asked Google though occasionally are hooked in to explore a bit further.

The last 10 percent are people who come via bookmarks, links, Twitter, Facebook, RSS and other recommendations. It is these 120 or so people who come regularly to the site as part of their regular media consumption who are most likely to be reading what I’m currently writing. Given that most of the posts here at Woolly Days break the cardinal rule of short blogging and are often quite dense and political, it is likely that at least two thirds of these will not have the time or inclination to read this far into the post. Let’s assume then that there are just 40 readers left at this stage.

I humbly thank this mathematical derived forty that have stayed the course and hope that they find the rest of this journey interesting. I would also love to hear back what people think about blogging or what they think might be an interesting research question. I would like this quest to serve as much meaning as I can cram into it. But if it there is no meaning or if none of this matters, I’d like to hear about that too.

Next week I’ll be looking at how much journalism is in my work.

Cheers
Derek Barry