Government intros "Twitter tsar"

£160,000 a year for director of digital engagement

18 May 2009 13:39 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

The Cabinet Office has hired a "director of digital engagement", on a salary of what's reported as "up to" £160,000.

The job has gone to Andrew Stott, described by the Telegraph as one of the government's most experienced press officers and the government's deputy chief information officer since 2004.

Stott will look at how government "can use the internet to communicate with people", and will focus on using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

"We live in a digital age, and we have to make sure we engage with people", a Cabinet Office spokesperson told the Telegraph.

"Andrew's appointment will allow to use things like Twitter to get our message across. During the current swine flu outbreak we have used digital mediums to get our message across, and we believe it is very effective as so many people rely on the internet to get their news".

Stott's progress can be followed via Twitter.com/DirDigEng.

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