Reason 1, 230,894 to hate Twitter

In its short history, Twitter -— a microblogging tool that uses 140 characters in bursts of text -— has become an important marketing tool for celebrities, politicians and businesses, promising a level of intimacy never before approached online, as well as giving the public the ability to speak directly to people and institutions once comfortably on a pedestal.

But someone 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.

(Via the NYTimes)