Suggestions (but not standards) for live tweeting September 6, 2011 by Steve Buttry "Do you know of any standards for content of live tweets?" a commenter asked on my blog recently. "I have students live tweet meetings and speeches. Would love some specific guidelines for what makes a good tweet," asked Michele Day, who teaches journalism at Northern Kentucky University.

Someday Twitter tips will seem as unnecessary for most journalists as notebook tips. But in the past few weeks, I have encountered several journalists who were not using Twitter yet. A couple just within the last week asked my advice, so I decided to update my tips for journalists using Twitter, originally published in July 2009.

I started my professional journalism career 40 years ago. I don't recall the exact date I started work, but it was in August and I'm pretty sure the anniversary is sometime this week. I don't know what that means, other than that I'm getting old and I've seen and survived a lot.

One of my former newspapers, the Omaha World-Herald, has posted one of my best stories online. I wrote a 1997 narrative of the rescue of 3-year-old twins Jennifer and Kourtney Woracek. The story from the World-Herald archives was republished Sunday as a related link to an update on the twins (now 17), written by World-Herald columnist Mike Kelly, a friend for 18 years.

In the days of my callow youth, I remember referring to journalists who ventured into public relations as having "sold out." Never mind that many in PR toiled for pay as low as many journalists. Never mind that PR ethics also insist on getting the facts right.

Jennifer's tiny heart gave up. But no one else would.As paramedic Gary Wood reached to lift 3 - year - old Jennifer Woracek onto a stretcher to take her to a helicopter that would fly her to another hospital for more life - saving treatment, the gold line on her heart monitor went flat.Two hours after police began an intense search for Jennifer and her twin sister, Kourtney, an hour after the snow - caked girls arrived at the St.