How a Local Elected Official's Tweet Made Front Page News
By Gina Cuclis
The subtext of this post answers a question I hear frequently, "Why be on Twitter?" People still tell me they think Twitter is silly. However, if publicity or public relations is part of your organization's marketing mix — which it should be — then you must be on Twitter. Why? Because that's where the journalists are. They watch Twitter for story ideas and to get a pulse on the community.
A Tweet Makes Front Page News
Today's Santa Rosa Press Democrat has a front page story about a controversy caused by a tweet from Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane. The tweet expressed her opinion about the proposed mosque near ground zero in New York City.
This single tweet was met with rebuke from a local leader of the Islamic Society of Santa Rosa, Said Mansour.
In addition to Zane and Mansour being interviewed for the story, Petaluma software developer Dan Lyke was quoted. He warranted an interview simply because he replied to Zane's tweet with a different opinion.
This example also illustrates how the news media likes controversy.
If you have other examples of how tweets have made news, please share. What do you think about the Press Democrat's coverage of this issue? I invite your comments.
The subtext of this post answers a question I hear frequently, "Why be on Twitter?" People still tell me they think Twitter is silly. However, if publicity or public relations is part of your organization's marketing mix — which it should be — then you must be on Twitter. Why? Because that's where the journalists are. They watch Twitter for story ideas and to get a pulse on the community.
A Tweet Makes Front Page News
Today's Santa Rosa Press Democrat has a front page story about a controversy caused by a tweet from Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane. The tweet expressed her opinion about the proposed mosque near ground zero in New York City.
This single tweet was met with rebuke from a local leader of the Islamic Society of Santa Rosa, Said Mansour.
In addition to Zane and Mansour being interviewed for the story, Petaluma software developer Dan Lyke was quoted. He warranted an interview simply because he replied to Zane's tweet with a different opinion.
This example also illustrates how the news media likes controversy.
If you have other examples of how tweets have made news, please share. What do you think about the Press Democrat's coverage of this issue? I invite your comments.
Posted by Gina Cuclis at 8/19/2010 12:28 AM 
Categories: Newspapers, Twitter, Public Relations Tips
Tags: Shirlee Zane Twitter Press Democrat Gina Cuclis Islamic news
Categories: Newspapers, Twitter, Public Relations Tips
Tags: Shirlee Zane Twitter Press Democrat Gina Cuclis Islamic news
Thanks for the mention, Gina!
Yeah, I got a call in the middle of the afternoon when there was a lot of stuff going on. Derek did a good idea of trimming out my impromptu phone rant, but I do wish I'd had a chance to give a more nuanced response, and I wish he'd caught a bit more of my sense that I'd like to have the discussion, because I'm sure Shirlee's position is more nuanced than either Twitter or the PD article showed, and I'd like to delve into that and work more on understanding rather than sniping and showing the strife and separations.
But that's a digression. To your larger point: A professor of mine back in college told me "whatever else you do, publish, publish, publish.". I didn't go into academia, but I've had only good things happen by participating in widescale public discourse, whether that's in person in a coffee shop, on FidoNet, Usenet, the web, or Twitter.
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Thank you Dan for filling us in on the behind the scenes situation with your interview. We learn from each other experiences.
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Hmm...a whitewater river guide, a Usenet user, and a Twitter user...we have a lot in common! I don't run into many people who have all of those credentials, and yet I have them all too. I guess it goes to show that age is not the primary qualification for being hooked in.
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Roy, one difference: You've got two lifetime flips, I'd do that four times a day if I thought the crews were hardcore enough (though I considered it a real success if I could empty the boat while keeping it upright and staying in it). Swimming's good for them.
(Though before VHS completely disappears I need to get someone to digitize my infamous "picked the completely wrong set of gate rocks after my scout" run of Pillow Rock on the Gauley...)
Except for a few OC-2 runs of the South Fork of the American, before I split with my paddling partner and sold my canoe, I haven't really done any paddling out here. Switched to activities which don't involve driving all day for a few hours of paddling.
And no, youth isn't necessary to be hooked in, if we keep exploring those new things then experience can be quite the asset.
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