Nice find from Joey Baker’s blog

Newspaper and social media convergence.  I have never seen any other newspaper put twitter addresses in their masthead, have you?  To learn more read the following Q&A with Bill Adee, Chicago Tribune editor/digital media.

RI – Introduce yourself (name, title, specialty)
BA – Bill Adee, editor/digital media

RI – Does the masthead in the printed newspaper have the twitter addresses or is it just visible via the link above? What am I looking at? Where does this appear?
BA – That is the masthead as it appeared in last Thursday’s newspaper, on the Editorial page.

RI – Does the Chicago Tribune feel that twitter is better at contacting those in the masthead than email? Why use twitter?
BA – We wanted to make a statement about our digital efforts, but at a practical level it also is a great way to communicate with our readers and learn more about what they are reading and thinking.

RI – When did your news organization officially begin using twitter? (when was the “Chicago Tribune on Twitter” logo created?)
BA – I have been using it for two years. I would say we stepped up our use of Twitter a year ago.

RI – Who is credited with bringing twitter to the Chicago Tribune? (putting it into widespread use)
BA – Here is a link to a piece I did about our social media efforts at the chicago tribune:

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100697

RI – What interesting things have you done with twitter so far?
BA – I think it has helped us connect with the Web community (bloggers, readers) here in Chicago. We have received plenty of breaking news tips through Twitter. We teach Twitter as an important way for a reporter to connect with sources and readers.

RI – Where do you see the tool really shining?
BA – I think Twitter Search is still hugely undervalued. It’s a great way to monitor what see what the next big news is going to be, whether it is a gaffe in a presidential debate, a controversial call in a game or a plane crash.

RI – How many Chicago Tribune readers use twitter? (as a percentage of total readers)
BA – How many Chicago Tribune newspaper readers? I would guess under 3 percent.

RI – How is twitter marginalizing your long form journalism? is it?
BA – I don’t think it is. It is a great way to find out about interesting long and short stories and to recommend them to others.

RI – Regarding convergence, what should i be asking you about right now?
BA – I would be asking you about your definition of convergence. I think it meant more to me 5 years ago.

RI – Touche Bill Adee. My usage of “convergence” here was meant to illicit a response in line with your thoughts on the continuing evolution of digital media communications and that of print media communications.  Or specifically how “The Colonel” and Twitter are related.