Thanks for the supportive comments. I admire http://www.prconversations.com because it provides an open forum for different viewpoints on PR. It provides a great environment to share test and explore ideas with fellow professionals. I like the broad scope of the material published. I love the sometimes sharp differences of opinion expressed on challenging issues. I warm also to the tone of discussion which is respectful, serious and professional. A rare Web PR gem.

I originally visited 21st Century PR Issues because our group blog, PR Conversations (http://www.prconversations.com), isgetting so many hits from here. Wandering around, I discovered this post.

I’ve been experimenting with twitter, first as a travel microblog, with a twitmoniker only (i.e., not my real name) and “publicity” about its existence solely directed to family, colleagues and friends, who knew I was going on an extended trip to Australia. The interesting thing was that I kept picking up followers (mainly people I didn’t have a prior relationship with), I can only assume based on what I tweeted. Many were from the country I was visiting (Oz), others were travel enthusiasts/bloggers, film buffs, some activists (e.g., when I tweeted about attending a book reading with Mamdouh Habib), etc.

Even though I returned home more than a month ago, I’ve kept up the account to see whether it is a worthwhile endeavour. I agree with you that twitter’s greatest legitimacy/validity is the information-sharing aspect. I’ve recently begun following such “institutions” on twitter as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the National Film Board and the Canadian Journalism Foundation. Quite frankly, I get more useful/interesting/timely information from these twitter streams than at least 80 per cent of the content from individuals I follow (and currently I am following fewer than 100).

Twitter is still proving to be an interesting channel to participate in and observe as a *starting point* for information and “relationships.* But I’m on your side that it definitely isn’t going to replace other forms of interaction (online or off) that hold more depth and promise.

I agree with Mr Seaman. The cream will rise to the top.