Twitter-Addled CNN Refers To Tweets As A ‘Source’
Everyone’s coverage of the uprising in Iran has been Twitter-centric, for obvious reasons. But CNN, in an apparent attempt to look like they have real, non-Twitter newsgathering capabilities, has been regurgitating Twitter posts and attributing them to unnamed “sources.”
Michael van Poppel of BNO News caught CNN grabbing the posts of a user called PersianKiwi—one of the more prominent of the Iranian Twitterers—and inserting them into the mouths of sources in this online piece from last week.
Here’s PersianKiwi posting on the morning of June 24:
they were waiting for us – they all have guns and riot uniforms – it was like a mouse trap – ppl being shot like animals #Iranelection 6:53 AM Jun 24th from web
I see many ppl with broken arms/legs/heads – blood everywhere – pepper gas like war – #Iranelection 6:35 AM Jun 24th from web
And here’s CNN’s online coverage of street protests in Iran, posted later the same day:
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — Security forces wielding clubs and firing weapons beat back hundreds of would-be demonstrators who had flocked to a square in the capital on Wednesday to continue protests against an election they have denounced as fraudulent, witnesses told CNN.
“They were waiting for us,” one source said. “They all have guns and riot uniforms. It was like a mouse trap.”
“I see many people with broken arms, legs, heads – blood everywhere – pepper gas like war,” the source said.
A CNN spokesman couldn’t immediately explain how PersianKiwi became a CNN “source.”
[Via Soup; graphic by Michael van Poppel.]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@Edge101: I agree.
This whole Iran fiasco, along with the L.A. Times piece earlier complaining about TMZ breaking the Michael Jackson story before them, may signal the turning point for old media.
They can either go down the road of the RIAA when Napster hit big, and dig their heels into the ground and fight it tooth 'n' nail, only to let something like iTunes come along... or they can actually adapt to the way the world is changing, something that should have been no surprise to them.
Paul_Is_Drunk
@Aaron Altman: I saw it mentioned on some news channel, but I can't remember which - they didn't refer to him by name, just "one of our main sources on twitter is now missing."
I guess that means there's no update on where he is, huh :(
tokenfemale
At the Canned Nonsense Network, all twits are considered solid and quotable sources, even bat-shit loony ones like @AliceHof.
Should World War III break out, I fully expect to see the newspaper headline: OMG!
Ken Green
Lou Gossett, Jr., the 73 year-old star of "Iron Eagle" and "Enemy Mine", died of a heart attack in Chile while shooting a movie. At least that's what the internet said. And "I read it on the internet" now counts.
Get a clue, Gawker. You're old media now!
OJ killed CNN's credibility as a news source years ago.
This truly scares me and is ever more proof that we may need a Government bailout of well respected news agencies. The moment we allow anonymous bloggers and tweeters to control the news is the moment our society reverts to the stone age.
FaceMelter
@curiousgeorgiana: UGH. Can't believe that they didn't mention...jeez, indeed.
@hilikusopus:
and gender neutral!!!
@Aaron Altman: I really can't believe that the didn't mention this part.
@Aaron Altman:
Ooooooo! I love my news speculated!!
fucktards
That's really good research by van Poppel. What CNN was doing was not journalism, but laziness. In fact, I don't think the term "journalism" fits anymore -- we have to come up with a new description. Maybe "regurgitation"?
Adam
[www.twitterbacklash.com]
Edge101
@Woodward @Bernstein You need to follow the money trail. Find out where the money came from. This goes all the way to the top. #Watergate
I do love Sherry
CNN also seems to ignore that PersianKiwi's last Tweet was on June 24th - he/she hasn't been heard from since, and speculation is that he/she was arrested. Jeez.
It really should read "I see many [people] with broken arms[, ]legs[, ]heads - blood everywhere - pepper gas like war." Let's not misquote our sources, CNN. If they had left in the #Iranelection, I would be oh so happy.
Amazing.