The NYT has an interesting article this morning about celebrities and others who hire assistants to tweet for them.

[S]omeone has to do all that writing, even if each entry is barely a sentence long. In many cases, celebrities and their handlers have turned to outside writers — ghost Twitterers, if you will — who keep fans updated on the latest twists and turns, often in the star’s own voice.

Ghost tweeting is not currently a part of Prequent’s EQ service, and I’m not sure I endorse the idea, even for companies.  (Comments I’ve read on the article often distinguished between individuals and companies, arguing that it is somehow more acceptable for companies to hire third-party tweeters.)

Via http://tinyurl.com/cged6h

The New York Times has a very cool animated Twitter cloud that shows what folks around the nation were tweeting during the Super Bowl:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/02/02/sports/20090202_superbowl_twitter.html

Amber Naslund, Director of Community for Radian6, has started lots of discussion with her post on the “Social Media Stalemate”:

Why do companies trust their employees to answer a phone, but not to blog or get on Twitter? … Once again, we’re at this place of what I’m affectionately calling the Social Media Stalemate.

Addressing this challenge is critically important for companies of all kinds — if we believe that conversations are markets, then it’s obvious that companies can’t ignore their markets.

Prescription for reluctant companies?  Go slowly.  Listen first.  Engage without selling.

via The Social Media Stalemate | Altitude Branding.

Obama’s White House has moved quickly on the new media front.  Just after the inauguration, Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House, posted to the administration’s new blog.

One of the first changes is the White House’s new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world. …

Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.