Twitter FirstChanging TV News 140 Characters at a Time
by Dale Blasingame, Texas State University-San Marcos
“Web First”
Rallying cry for newspapersAlso applies to TV newsThis process is admirable, but not good enough
anymore
“Twitter First”
Twitter has emerged as go-to tool for journalists
Twitter is perfectly suited for breaking news coverage
News happens in real time - not at 5, 6 or 10 pm
GatekeepingThe decision process that determines why one story
makes air or print and another does not. This study focuses on the flow of information during a breaking or spot news story.
Assignment Desk
Photograph
erRepor
terProdu
cerAncho
rAudience
“Gatejumping”Phrase coined by Brogan and Smith (2010) in
relation to marketing oneself in a new way on the Internet Radio stations vs. podcasters
This study uses the term in a much more literal sense
Twitter allows traditionally early gatekeepers to jump gates and deliver news directly to the audience
“Gatejumping”
Assignment Desk
Photograph
erReport
erProduc
erAncho
rAudience
Research Questions
RQ1. How has Twitter changed the levels of gates and allowed non-anchor newsroom employees to become de facto reporters, particularly during breaking or spot news situations?
RQ2. What are the main functions of the Twitter accounts in television newsrooms?
MethodologySan Antonio selected for purposes of this study
Precedence set by Berkowitz (1990), who used Indianapolis for his gatekeeping study
Personal and professional ties Good, bad and ugly – other stations/markets may relate
Qualitative case study approach used for RQ1: coverage of a triple murder-suicide
Quantitative analysis used for RQ2: coded 2,293 tweets from 60 newsroom employee accounts
RQ1: Case Study8:32pm: “SAPD scanners say officers are heading out to the 17000 block
of Fawn Crossing for a multiple shooting scene.” - @KABBDesk
9:04pm: “On scene at shooting in The Woods Of Deerfield subdivision http://twitpic.com/29l9h6” - @Grace__White
RQ1: Case Study9:20pm: “BREAKING: Shooting at Woods of Deerfield
neighborhood. Location: http://j.mp/9QGaxD http://twitpic.com/29ldij” - @doublepunching
RQ1: Case Study
9:23pm: “What's going on in the Woods of Deerfield neighborhood off Bitters & Huebner...4 pple said to be shot” - @SarahLuceroKENS
10:26pm: “Police: children of one of the victims were playing outside when they heard gunshots. Kids went indoors and saw shooter with gun.” - @Leila_Walsh
RQ1: Case Study
Illustrates the potential of Twitter as a tool to deliver breaking news
News was delivered quickly and effectively by gatejumpers
Foolish to suggest this happens on a daily basis
RQ2: Quantitative AnalysisBreakin
gPromotion
alChit-Chat Participati
onNon-
Breaking
KABB 70 134 20 2 32
KENS 24 122 164 2 5
WOAI 11 308 83 2 23
KSAT 219 297 728 11 36Tweets from ten randomly selected days
RQ2: Quantitative AnalysisBreakin
gPromotion
alChit-Chat Participati
onNon-
Breaking
KABB 26 122* 1 0 1
KENS 1 104* 0 0 0
WOAI 0 296* 0 0 0
KSAT 36 257* 4 2 1Tweets from ten randomly selected days*Links from Twitterfeed
So What? Pew: TV viewership is on the decline, down 10%
from 1991-2010, and online news consumption is up 10% from 2002. Online is now a more popular source of news than radio or newspaper
Stations must go to where the consumers are and give them reasons to become viewers
So What?
“The key is to respect the relationship with users. I like the 80/20 rule, where 80% of the time you add value, 20% of the time you promote.” – Mark Briggs
This could be the standard stations use as they begin to embrace Twitter