Facebook announced that it will allow journalists to use the social network’s Mentions app, which was originally designed as a VIP service to help celebrities — including actors, musicians and professional athletes — manage their social profiles. Now, any journalist or public figure verified by Facebook will have access to the app; an expanded list of trending topics, headlines and summaries; and the ability to monitor social chatter and conduct Q&A sessions from their mobile phones. Poynter.org suggests that the “update to Mentions means that more journalists may decide to use Facebook as another avenue for reporting and engagement, thereby solidifying the social network’s place as an arbiter of news.”