Carry On The Conversation Via Facebook?

Facebook group walls could become the destination for discussions about news stories, according to a freelance writer.

Pat Walters says the social networking website could host forums initiated by news providers if the topic required more interactive tools than simple comment sections.

Speaking to American Journalism Review, Walters asserts: “I think it could be interesting. It would have to be something people care a lot about.”

He adds: “But there already are viable, sustainable groups happening all over the industry”.

Walters also suggests the advantage of Facebook is not that it alters the way people talk about a subject, but that it brings “more people into the discussion”.

Last year, Walters created a Facebook group called “Journalists and Facebook” and asked all members what they feel journalists can learn from the website.

His conclusions from the experiment can be seen here.