Ask Twitter for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for old media

New feed offers latest buzz on print’s casualties and phoenixes

Writing the ongoing obituary for traditional print media is wordy and therefore passe.

That’s where Twitter comes in. A new feed called The Media is Dying is a way for communicators to indulge in Schadenfreude about the state of the industry. With mercifully short 140-character blasts, it’s also a way for PR reps and journalists to keep tabs on who’s coming and going (or gone altogether).

The feed was started Nov. 19, by a group of 15 anonymous communicators. That cabal has grown to a network of more than 5,000. Anyone is welcome to join or send in tips.

“There’s an unprecedented amount of change going on in the media industry, and no one can keep up with this,” a founder wrote in an e-mail to Ragan.com. “If we crowd-source, we have a much better chance” of providing comprehensive information.

Blasts can detail corporate layoffs, buyouts and updates about specific journalists.

David Parmet, a New York PR agent, said the feed helps those involved in the public relations industry.