By Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog

At a time when more Americans are spending time consuming news, Twitter, arguably the most popular social media site, has announced changes to the way information is viewed, shared and consumed on its site.

Soon, video can be viewed directly on the site; this includes clips, short movies and even live video. These changes, combined with the many examples of news breaking first on Twitter, raise the question: Will Twitter become a news outlet?

From the captured Japanese journalist who used Twitter to announce to the world that he was alive to the recent shootings at Discovery Channel, Twitter continues to break news to the world. MTV has hired a TJ (Twitter Jockey). Could Twitter journalists be next?

It is debatable whether Twitter will be a lasting site or if something new will take hold and dominate the social media world. What I do not think is debatable is whether or not social media and crowd sourcing is going to last. It will!

How will this change the way we, as journalists report the news? How will this change the future responsibilities we will have in a newsroom? What does this mean for how we break stories?

I do not have all the answers and I am not sure there is just one correct answer to any of those questions, but I do think there is a way that we, as journalists, can embrace the changes and adapt to whatever new technology brings our way.

Embrace it and use social media sites to your advantage. Social media is making interview subject, the general public and information more accessible. When people and information are more accessible, our stories can be better, more informative and make more of an impact. If you cannot find a phone number for someone, no worries - search Facebook, "tweet" them or connect with them on LinkedIn. Yes-this means you now have to maintain a presence on these sites, but why wouldn't you? The benefits far outweigh the amount of time it takes to establish that presence.

Crowd source and do it often! Journalists are no longer privy to certain information about press conferences, major announcements from political candidates or celebrities or natural disaster updates like they used to be. So what if FEMA announces an update about a natural disaster before your station does? That is their job and the information is getting out there. Now, step up and forward the story: use social media to find people who are stranded, help spread details about locations of safe areas and dangerous areas, etc. Use crowd sourcing and information found online from viewers to help you do just that.

Be Flexible. As technology changes and as people consume news differently, our job as journalists is going to change. Expect it and enjoy it. Trying out new technologies is fun. Be the first to live tweet from a local city council meeting. Be the first to live stream from your phone while conducting an interview. Be the first to engage your audience online with question and answer sessions, etc. The first time your big interview is viewed may not be on the nightly newscast, be prepared for it and, most importantly, think of creative ways to keep the story relevant once it does air on television.
 
Will Twitter become a news organization? I am not sure it will, but what I do know is that we should embrace it. We should become Twitter journalists because we want to. There are people who want to see the news as it happens not hours later on television. There are people who want to help us as journalists, embrace them, use their information and thank them. It is Twitter and other social media sites that make it very easy. Maybe thank them too!