The thing is, if we didn't have Twitter or internet, we wouldn't be able to follow what was happening up to the minute. Odds are, we'd be completely unaware of what was going on. The more I think about it, the more I feel it's better to not have to rely on CNN for news, especially when there's no guarantee they'll tell the whole story. If they choose to cover it.
I think "CNNFail" has exposed just how cut off from live current events we really were.
Edwin Khodabakchian
· 5 months ago
Hi Pete. Definitely a #fail. If you are interested in the topic the twazzup team as been working around the clock to create a real-time twitter dashboard on the developments around the iranian elections. Available at http://iran.twazzup.com (the site is on fire!)
markfinch
· 5 months ago
I created a post on the graphic brutality that Iranians are enduring. If you are sensitive or disturbed by graphic violence then please avoid this post. I hope that raising awareness of the subject we can push our governments to not sit idly by and ignore this travesty. http://markfinch.info/44
iTbay
· 5 months ago
@ricksanchezcnn CNN acnchor tweeted this 17hrs ago about a student in Tehran @tehranelection - tweeting the tales of the elections from his own eyes...interesting stuff.
Great, now the people choose what news companies choose to report.
Jason Moffatt
· 5 months ago
I wouldn't exactly encourage people to get their news on Iranian issues from United States media.
Steve Latham
· 5 months ago
Wasn't @aplusk supposed to take over these duties for CNN?
Tarmo
· 5 months ago
No fail here... you just watched the wrong channel. CNN International has been all over the election.... even preempting scheduled programs
Jamie
· 5 months ago
Right, because everyone actually gets CNN International and watches it regularly.
I don't know anyone in my area who gets CNN International, or at least that realizes they do. It's either unavailable on our local plans or so ridiculously high up in the channel numbers that I've never even seen it in the listings
Considering that Iran's political situation is a major concern for the US, you'd think it would have gotten more than a single line.
No, CNN didn't ignore it.
But they sure as hell didn't get on it very quickly or effectively either. The fact that I first heard about the election kerfluffle - the details of it, no less - on Twitter and not the national news or national news websites, is very telling, and also disappointing. .
Robert MacEwan
· 5 months ago
Geez, when I was younger CNN was the source of news on TV. Who controls their content decisions?
Brandon Mendelson
· 5 months ago
Interesting stuff. There is a great question here (and perhaps CNN can comment on this?) about why they took so long to update their website when they are a 24/7 company.
Why not contact them?
Doubledown Tandino
· 5 months ago
A topic trending and a brief twitter outburst is NOT a worthy story. There was a flash of cnnfail... so what... as you can see THIS article ABOUT cnnfailing is now trending.... trending topics is JUST what people are talking about on twitter... its NOT what people believe or a vote or a protest or an uprising.
Brian
· 5 months ago
I wouldn't say the movement is going to 'lose traction.' Stories about the election are highlighted on CNN right now, if they use of the #CNNFail tag subsides its more because it's been a victory not because Twitterers have lost interest.
jthane
· 5 months ago
Who cares? If you only get your news in one place, expect to be lost about half the time.
Don't be idiots.
shibu jacob
· 5 months ago
Good one mate.It just goes to show the hypocrisy of the Western world.A few rogue countries decide the fate of the rest of the world.Its not going to last forever...nothing lasts forever.Whoever thought that England and France,who upto the 1930's were the most powerful colonists' and between themselve they owned nearly 80% of the world.But after WW II, they no longer remained supreme and the U.S and USSR took over as superpowers.Now, I dont know what CNN or the U.S had to gain by not covering the polls in Teheran.Its all a game of power and vested interests.Imperialism didn't die with the demise of colonialism, it just took on another name and form just like viruse's mutate.Its all about survival, in this case of a school of thought.About supremacy.Now,whether it's good or bad,we are yet to discover.
adagioforstrings
· 5 months ago
"Now, I dont know what CNN or the U.S had to gain by not covering the polls in Teheran."
It's not that complicated. CNN supports Obama. Obama is pushing for talks with Iran. If the Iranian elections don't appear fair, it will undermine Obama's plans.
The screenshots tell a tale more nuanced than the provocative “new media beats old media” narrative
Strawman. The narrative was not that it was why aren't the traditional media doing their job. Don't distort just to show how balanced you are - that is CNN's job.
tp bandit
· 5 months ago
every major news station seems to have a theme that they focus on all the time that isn't really related to news... logical conclusion: listen to public radio or watch PBS
workingman
· 5 months ago
I don't agree about CNN fail, in fact they did cover the election in Iran from day one. this an attack by Fox News right winger, why they don't complain about FOX NEWS. they did far less coverage than CNN.
I don't agree about CNN fail, in fact they did cover the election in Iran from day one. this an attack by Fox News right winger, why they don't complain about FOX NEWS. they did far less coverage than CNN.
China Blows
· 5 months ago
Yes, I see what you mean completely. Every single news site should definitely tell us the EXACT SAME FUCKING THING because otherwise, we won't know which unconsidered opinion is correct.
Look, sometimes news outlets prioritize differently. If you don't like it, fuck off and start your own news outlet - or just bitch about it on Twitter, then imagine that your bitching accomplished something when in fact, you've done essentially nothing but type "FAIL" into your computer.
kristi
· 5 months ago
The reason I see it as a fail is that they've been promoting the heck out of the # of followers rather than content, which shouldn't be ignored. If they're going after # of followers, then you have to have substantive and regular tweets. my area at work is just getting into twitter and had a minor scale fail over the weekend when I tweeted that we were sponsoring an ad on the Stanley Cup but then due to some maintenance, the site was down. That isn't good, but I had no idea that was happening or that if I did, no idea that it would affect the site during prime viewing hours.
Mike Hale
· 5 months ago
If any celebrities had flown to Tehran to join the protests CNN would have covered it ad nauseum.
Joanna Pena-Bickley
· 5 months ago
Pete - thanks for sharing the info! I was perplexed on Friday when CNN opted to highlight Chaz Bono instead of what was clearly a news story that had historic ramifications. http://twurl.nl/pqcfch
Mark 'Rizzn' Hopkins
· 5 months ago
Robert Scoble, Michael Sean Wright and one of the co-founders of Twazzup (@mocy) did an impromptu podcast recapping much of this stuff earlier today.
Great analysis of a crystal clear #fail, but why say there is a more nuanced take from the story? The screenshots prove MSM reported on the Iran elections, but they do not say anyone has looked to these sites for interpretation. I certainly didn't - I found tools like Twitterfall were able to provide an incredible mix of eye-witness news, analysis and global reaction. Nothing more was needed. (read my view at http://psigrist.wordpress.com)
hoh
· 5 months ago
BBC world service [radio] were brilliant yesterday! interviewed people who explained why the 'loosers' were so pissed off. Love the BBC world service - not so keen on the African slots - not the same quality of journalism Thanx for all the fascinating info you have on this blog is fantastic thanx – need to be informed on latest issues! As I’m usually the lat to hear about things! I’ve come via yr twitter page [link? jargon grrr!]
angela
· 5 months ago
for the best all around unbiased coverage on ANYTHING,WHEN IT HAPPENS..FOX NEWS IS ALL OVER IT!!!
hoh
· 5 months ago
BBC world service [radio] were brilliant yesterday! interviewed people who explained why the 'loosers' were so pissed off. Love the BBC world service - not so keen on the African slots - not the same quality of journalism Thanx for all the fascinating info you have on this blog is fantastic thanx – need to be informed on latest issues! As I’m usually the lat to hear about things! I’ve come via yr twitter page [link? jargon grrr!]
Sophie Latulippe Oue
· 5 months ago
HI Pete,
To read a perspective that might be completely new to you, you might want to look at http://bit.ly/DfKw... You can contact me if this "original" view of social media interests you.
Sophie Latulippe Oue
· 5 months ago
oops... I have some problems with write4.net... "Last night I took part in the Iranian Protest... Via Twitter." http://bit.ly/DfKwr (via @tweetmeme)
Diondelazante
· 5 months ago
Iranian Democrats should stand up for their right for freedom Like the Greeks threw the Dictators out of their country and thusands of people died but Democracy prevailed ,Iranian people can do it also NO God or religion wants people to suffer The time has come GO all the way Greeks,Usa and the whole world is on your side
Diondelazante
· 5 months ago
Iranian Democrats should stand up for their right for freedom Like the Greeks threw the Dictators out of their country and thousands of people died but Democracy prevailed ,Iranian people can do it also NO God or religion wants people to suffer The time has come GO all the way Greeks,Usa and the whole world is on your side
Andrew G. Benjamin
· 5 months ago
Only FOX News provides UNFILTERED coverage! The rest is politics and nonsense. Neda, we are with you. We are with the Iranian People. Hang the Supreme Leader who chose Ahmenijad...his puppet. Hang the Mullahs! Rid yourselves of the oppressors of women and the stupidifiers of men. NEDA, we won't forget you!
Don Toivola
· 4 months ago
Yeah, CNN definately deserves a #fail for the efforts in their blank coverage regarding Tehran...
gucci bags
· 4 months ago
This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.
All Comments
I think "CNNFail" has exposed just how cut off from live current events we really were.
fx15 lida yılan yağı karınca yumurtası xacc
I don't know anyone in my area who gets CNN International, or at least that realizes they do. It's either unavailable on our local plans or so ridiculously high up in the channel numbers that I've never even seen it in the listings
Considering that Iran's political situation is a major concern for the US, you'd think it would have gotten more than a single line.
No, CNN didn't ignore it.
But they sure as hell didn't get on it very quickly or effectively either. The fact that I first heard about the election kerfluffle - the details of it, no less - on Twitter and not the national news or national news websites, is very telling, and also disappointing.
.
Why not contact them?
There was a flash of cnnfail... so what... as you can see THIS article ABOUT cnnfailing is now trending....
trending topics is JUST what people are talking about on twitter... its NOT what people believe or a vote or a protest or an uprising.
Don't be idiots.
It's not that complicated. CNN supports Obama. Obama is pushing for talks with Iran. If the Iranian elections don't appear fair, it will undermine Obama's plans.
http://www.sprayforhealth.co.uk
http://CNNfail.com - lets you read the #CNNfail tweets as they come in.
Strawman. The narrative was not that it was why aren't the traditional media doing their job. Don't distort just to show how balanced you are - that is CNN's job.
Look, sometimes news outlets prioritize differently. If you don't like it, fuck off and start your own news outlet - or just bitch about it on Twitter, then imagine that your bitching accomplished something when in fact, you've done essentially nothing but type "FAIL" into your computer.
http://twurl.nl/pqcfch
http://rizzn.com/blog/2009/06/twitterwin-cnnfai...
Thanx for all the fascinating info you have on this blog is fantastic thanx – need to be informed on latest issues! As I’m usually the lat to hear about things! I’ve come via yr twitter page [link? jargon grrr!]
Thanx for all the fascinating info you have on this blog is fantastic thanx – need to be informed on latest issues! As I’m usually the lat to hear about things! I’ve come via yr twitter page [link? jargon grrr!]
To read a perspective that might be completely new to you, you might want to look at http://bit.ly/DfKw... You can contact me if this "original" view of social media interests you.
Like the Greeks threw the Dictators out of their country and thusands of people died but Democracy prevailed ,Iranian people can do it also
NO God or religion wants people to suffer
The time has come
GO all the way
Greeks,Usa and the whole world is on your side
Like the Greeks threw the Dictators out of their country and thousands of people died but Democracy prevailed ,Iranian people can do it also
NO God or religion wants people to suffer
The time has come
GO all the way
Greeks,Usa and the whole world is on your side