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CNN boldly quotes Twitter user as a "source"

Gawker: http://bit.ly/5YWPZ

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Computing | by Samuel Axon | Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:55PM | 1 comment

Mainstream news outlet CNN cited a Twitter user as "one source" in an article about the situation in Iran, raising some questions about what constitutes a valid source for a journalistic publication. It's difficult for a news network to verify the identity of a Twitter user, or to confirm whether or not his or her tweets are factual.

This story around the web:

Trusted sources:
external link Gawker - Twitter-Addled CNN Refers to Tweets… [gawker.com]
external link Techmeme: Twitter-Addled CNN Refers to Tweets… [techmeme.com]
external link Soup - How your CNN news sausage gets made.… [soupsoup.tumblr.com]
external link A journalistic conundrum: When does Twitter… [features.csmonitor.com]
external link Violence flares again in Tehran - CNN.com [edition.cnn.com]

Latest Tweets about this story:

  • beaaurthur - CNN just used twitter as a SOURCE.. WTF
  • BooCatherine - cnn just used twitter as a source for information. i'm unsure of what to do with that.
  • ccwriter - CNN now running graphic under name of female cop who shot Hasan that says "Source: Twitter."
  • nosaprise - Touche RT @seanpadilla (When CNN stopped becoming a reliable news source lol) RT @nosaprise: When did twitter become a reliable news source?
  • MrsBamBam - had to turn to CNN bc i dont like to use [twitter] as a news source if i AM going to be interested in the current events. lol
  • seanpadilla - (When CNN stopped becoming a reliable news source lol) RT @nosaprise: When did twitter become a reliable news source?
  • inesruud - RT @AustinCarroll I like how CNN uses Twitter for a source..... -- looks like they have no other way of getting info :P
  • leeann05 - RT: @AustinCarroll: I like how CNN uses Twitter for a source.....
  • AlyssawPeterson - RT @Ideafood: Twitter lists and real-time journalism: http://bit.ly/3uHn8j (via @cnn) Now twitter lIsts IS my news source.
  • Ideafood - Twitter lists and real-time journalism: http://bit.ly/3uHn8j (via @cnn) Now twitter lIsts IS my news source.

Get more information on topics relating to this story:


Related company news:
CNN, Twitter, Inc.
Related glossary terms:
tweet, Microblogging
Related devices and services:
Twitter

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Anonymous (11:13 AM on Wed Jul 1, 2009)

This is the same with any other news source...how can they know if you or I would be telling the truth....people lie and its sad...but thats the gray part of life....its just not black and white.

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Anonymous (7:07 PM on Sat Nov 7, 2009)

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