TweetNewz's Blog

Tony La Russa Lawsuit

Last month Mr. La Russa filed a lawsuit against Twitter because someone was using a false account, and pretending to be him.  You would think his initial reaction would be to sue the alleged impersonator, but that was not the case.  Instead, he looked to Twitter for damages, but in reality they did just about all they could do,  shutting down the account immediately after the person was identified as a fake.  He even claimed a few days later that Twitter had settled with him by giving money to his favorite charity, which turned out to be false.  He should be careful before Twitter sues him for slander!

Kanye West Rant

Kanye found himself in the same boat, learning that someone had created an account and was pretending to be him.  In fact, this person had even amassed close to an amazing 1,000,000 followers.  However, instead of suing Twitter, he decided to vent via his personal blog.  He explained it in a caps lock filled 10 sentence rant scorning Twitter, alleging the head executives knew he didn’t have an account and did nothing.

As for the future of Twitter privacy, this was a major victory.  If La Russa had won, it would have opended the floodgates for other celebrities, such as Kayne, to sue as well.  But most importantly, the La Russa lawsuit scare spawned verified accounts to protect users and celebrities in the future. Twitter must continue to work on improving authenticity, while celebrities need to either start an account or learn to relax, because this type of behavior is common on social networking websites, and will likely happen again.  If executed properly, celebrities can use Twitter to reach droves of fans in a more effective, personal manner.  Just ask Ashton Kutcher, who has the largest following on the network.

Social media is here to stay and it is more than just a fad amongst the younger generation, it spans all demographics.  Today, about 19 percent of those age 55 and over visit social networking sites, up from just 6 percent a year ago. Women are more likely than men to use social networking sites 48% vs. 38%, but usage has increased dramatically among both groups in just a year.  More than half of social networkers log on at least once a day, and the majority log on several times a day.  They are an integral part of our personal and professional lives, as well as a powerful marketing tool in the online community.

Twitter and the News

Members of Twitter say their top reasons for “tweeting” are to:

42%  use it to connect with friends

29% use it to update their status

26% use it to look for news

Members of Twitter also are likely to interact with TV shows, employers, co-workers, companies/brands and TV anchors/journalists.  Twitter is becoming an integral part of the news industry, encouraging more interaction, discussions, and the overall socializing of content.  Accessing and utilizing this powerful new medium should be at the top of mind for all content publishers.

Twitter and Music

Twitter brand awareness  more than doubled in the first quarter of 2009 reaching a 52% awareness level among the U.S. Internet-using population.  People on Twitter purchased 77% more digital music downloads, on average, than non-tweeting Web users.  Twitter members use it as a tool to communicate and network music, helping to spread new music across the web.

News and music industries must focus on harnessing the power of social networking, capitalizing on it exponential benefits and untapped potential.

Yesterday marked the passing of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.  It is a sad moment in history, and a time for reflection upon his many musical and personal accomplishments.

However, his death has also brought to the forefront some of the most heated topics and debates surrounding the clash between new and old media.

1. Credibility within new media

This issue can be harshly demonstrated by Perez Hilton’s lack of information and insensitivity to the magnitude of the situation yesterday.  He posted on his Twitter blog that Michael was faking his medical condition to get out of a future performance across seas.  Clearly this wasn’t the case, and these types of self-promoting bloggers are ruining credibility for those users and blogs who work hard to provide insightful and valuable content.  Although this is just one person, he has a very large following on Twitter, and can influence many more people than a typical individual blogger.

Please click the picture below for more information about the post on Mashable.

2. Timeliness when reporting news

TMZ was credited as the first to publish the news that he was dead while large news outlets and old media were behind by a few hours.  After TMZ broke the news, Twitter was skyrocketing with Michael Jackson commentary, approximately 40 minutes before the L.A. Times confirmed the report.  Supporters of new media feel this is just another example of how new media is becoming a more powerful medium for posting and sharing news.  On the other hand, old media believe TMZ just guessed and got lucky.  They feel that sites like TMZ lack credibility in the long haul within the consumer’s mind.

For a more thorough look at this debate check out the following article on Techcrunch.

Whichever side you support, it is easy to see how these two issues stir up such a wide array of controversy.  While new media can provide the speed of information, they often lack the credibility, i.e. Perez Hilton.  As for old media, they must continue to establish a strong bond of trust with their consumer, but most importantly, they can’t continue to ignore the power of new media.  Instead they should look for a way to incorporate it and add value to their reporting.

At the 140 Characters Conference in New York, Robert Scoble hosted a passionate discussion with social-media-savvy traditional news personalities to explore how Twitter was transforming the process of gathering news and lead sourcing.

The major topic discussed was the recent use of Twitter during the Iran elections, and the evolution of “now” media.  Some at the conference feel Twitter will serve as the catalyst for the evolution of news judgment and connecting directly with citizens.  Traditional media members acknowleged that they are not covering the news at a fast enough pace, but also warned that many people who were posting tweets during the Iran elections were grossly informed.  With Twitter enthusiasts and traditional media each debating for their cause, there is only one thing that is certain, a fundamental change in the news machine itself is drawing close.

Click on the picture below to view the original Techcrunch post:

I think Clayton Morris of Fox News said it best, “We have reached a tipping point with new, traditional, and social media.  It’s conversation versus fact checking, and no one has answers to where this convergence is leading.”

Twitter displayed the power of social networking sites during the recent Iranian protests.  The government shut down traditional media and journalists, leaving Twitter as the main outlet for news coverage around the world.

Click either of the pictures below to view the original article on CBS News:

Twitter had even planned to go down for scheduled maintenance during the revolution, but pushed it back when they learned how important of a communication tool is was for Iran.

Although, some experts warn of overestimating Twitter’s role, saying that not all citizens are outraged, there is no denying the power of new media.