CNN just couldn't stand one line with live reports that came out of Tehran via Twitter. I've seen them all, the tanks, the shootings, the censorship, the demonstrations...http://twitter.com/#search..., it was so real. - Nir Ben Yona

Tick one off for the 'real-time' web! - Travis Koger

Sadly...believe it or not, the Tuttles (motorcycle dudes) are ridiculously popular and I'm sure the ad revenue and viewership during that spot was huge and CNN didn't want to piss any of them off. Reality television superstars vs. real-time web. - Dana Fosburgh

Dana: yeah, and that's an indictment of American culture right there that we can't pay attention to what's happening around the world because some stupid motorcycle dudes are too popular. - Robert Scoble

You're absolutely right, Dana. Ad revenue is on top the list right now, as far as I know. The question then is, should the network change their name so as not to mislead the public? - Moushumi Kabir

Some times we just report news but some times we(real time web) R the news ,CNN could use all the tools that we do,but they don't ,the news here is that old media if far far behind and as soon as they will get the point they will make the change ,the media world will not stay behind,they will learn and come back ,CNN is just one ,and all the others ? where are they ? - Johni Fisher

"ad revenue and viewership" - the problem in a nutshell. The cable "news" organizations are nothing of the sort. FOX never was. CNN started becoming more like FOX because FOX beat them in the ratings. You haven't been able to find "news" on cable in years, because bluster and celebrity crap sells more ads. - John Craft

CNN are too busy asking their viewers to do their reporting and editorial for them (http://www.thedailyshow.com/video... at about 3m30s in). - Paul Robertson

You mentioned it, but it should be emphasized that NONE of the major cable news networks were focusing on this last night, NOT just CNN. MSNBC, Fox, Bloomberg, CNBC... none of them. The New York Times had some excellent coverage on its Web site, though, including nice posts its The Lede blog. And CNN, to its credit, did have some video online when we checked about 10p CDT. - Dwight Silverman

John Craft-DING, DING, DING...we have a winner! They should change CNN to CEN (Cable Entertainment Network) I'd think about having some respect for them then! - Dana Fosburgh

As a business, I understand the need to multiply revenue and profit, more in public companies. But, with it comes responsibilities and priorities, more importantly, focus. Many news network have lost their focus, core business. Now they are taking the easy route and trying to generate revenue to keep shareholders happy. On that note, given the resource and $$$ spent on 'adopting' social media, I'm interested to know what's the ROI in public companies? That I would expect to be the bottom line in any business. Okay, I'm going off topic. Sorry. - Moushumi Kabir

Check this one: http://twitpic.com/7c85l, have you ever seen such an image coming from Iran? - Nir Ben Yona

Nir: Pulitzer Prize winning material there. Wow. - Robert Scoble

CNN has more Twitter Presence than any other National / Int News Organization , ABC comes in 2nd. I guess some twitter users were just too lazy to find users like @CNNSaeed and @OctaviaNasrCNN - joebrooks

John: you are right ,but when they can be in place and broadcast live they should stop the crap ,long time ago it was like that ,I don't know if you remember the Iraq /Israel war that CNN reporters were the once that reported the missiles places - Johni Fisher

"long time ago it was like that" - yes, prior to 2001 CNN had bureaux around the world, a committed news man in Tom Johnson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... , and an owner who didn't demand profits (Ted Turner). Ted sold to Time Warner, TW merged with AOL, and Tom Johnson retired, it all changed. - John Craft

I love being able to comment right from your blog! It's sounds like you had a very interesting night! It might have been a coincidence, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Look forward to your updates this week! - Michael Fidler

joebrroks, what is the purpose of so many Twitter accounts? Are they official or personal accounts? What's ROI for these accounts? Those would be my questions as a shareholder/Board. Given the economy, how resources are being used (or wasted) ought to be top priorities. - Moushumi Kabir

CNN will understand sooner or later that they must change ,I am sure that they are reading our news and as "news" its new for them :-)..... its not just being in place and on time ,it is much more from social media that they ignore - Johni Fisher

Regardless, CNN was broken before twitter. - Clint Laskowski

CNN only wants to use Twitter when it suits them -- but when they're getting out-reported by citizen journalists, they fold up the tent. - Curt Mercadante

Curt, trust me many of these accounts are activated by individuals who happen to be employees of the network and have put their work status on their profile. I doubt these Twitteres are official mouthpiece of the network. In fact, I think the network should be concerned by the random usage and waste of company $$$. - Moushumi Kabir

Moushumi: If CNN has lost "control" of it's employees' use of Twitter, it is only because these individuals realize the story that is being missed/fumbled by their employer. Perhaps we should consider them like whistleblowers -- unable to stand by and do nothing. - Curt Mercadante

Sigh. Seriously. - Patricia

Curt, I disagree. How an employee behaves or misuses resources should be taken seriously by any employer. I doubt many of them are so called whistle blowers, they aren't blowing anything, most times complaining about their work. If they are paid to maintain social space, that's a different story, as is the case with Robert and many other bloggers, microbloggers, etc. But, just to use one's position with high profile companies to promote their own agenda is simply wrong. My two cents. - Moushumi Kabir

I agree, the US news media has been broken and biased for a very long time. Maybe it's time for the movers and shakers of the social web to figure out a way to help citizen reporting by building in some rules for reporting to help validate/certify reporters/bloggers. I'm not implying that what's being reported is bad or anything like that, but there's enough people that I know that dismiss news because it doesn't come from cable or the newspaper. I think this failure of CNN and the US media in general shows all of the possibilities available now. - Amy D

The control of our media is something that few acknowledge but all should. How is it that just before a movie, you see a star on every cover of a magazine? That's a great example of the ability for others to move and sway media (and public opinion with it) -- granted, it's not harmful when it's something simple like Reese Witherspoon but it should be looked at as an example of HOW media can be controlled. I can say for fact a lot of media cover their friends, personal interests, etc. and bloggers do it too. Why stop at CNN? Expose the broad problem for what it is. - Patricia

can Twitter become or is it already the concience of the world ? - Ross Button

Patricia, very true, human nature and what's plaguing workforce. Regarding the latter: I've seen promotion/hire based on whose daughter is friend's with whose daughter, who play golf with whom, who is friend with whose husband/wife, who shares smoke/wine with who, etc.. Simple abuse of power and total lack of professionalism. Good news though, the economic downturn will force (if they haven't already) companies to shake up org for the good. - Moushumi Kabir

Interesting... I just started getting news alerts from CNN about Iran. - Amy D

@Amy, the "movers and shakers of the social web" include some that do this very same thing. I think it's up to consumers to police, not "leaders" -- consumers hand over their control in this country all the time, and it's too bad. We have the power to change the world, particularly in our country, yet we choose to leave it up to someone else instead. It's not a surprise, then, to see what we see happen. - Patricia

@Patricia, That's why I mentioned the movers and shakers instead of the consumers. :) They will never take the lead on it and will consume whatever is popular. The fact that Twitter is popular makes it stand out for them. - Amy D

Moushumi: I find it troubling that you are more concerned about CNN employees using Twitter on "company time" to cover one of the most important news stories in the world (while their employer remains silent). That's like scolding your employee for not having his "TPS Reports" turned in on time while the office burns down around you. CNN failed here. - Curt Mercadante

Robert, your posts on Iran inspired this post: http://www.mercstrategy.com/2009... - Curt Mercadante

@amy, but if the movers and shakers contribute to the problem, what will anyone gain? Organize a mass movement of consumers to take control of the media and you'll see change. Otherwise, we won't. - Patricia

@Patricia - Also, I guess you can say the movers and shakers in this media form would be the people that care about and post news rather than the leaders. Maybe they should be called anti-leaders? - Amy D

@Amy, most consumers do not know the way it works. they are not aware. that has nothing to do with who they are but what they know. i can spot instantly when something is "placed" in the media, when media has been controlled, etc. i've worked behind the scenes in media since i was 22 years old. Most consumers have no idea. To me, awareness is the only way to drive change. - Patricia

@Patricia Even with your knowledge, are you still a consumer as well? Most people don't know how Internet routing works but it still stays up (for the most part) and it's a very legitimate media source. - Amy D

@Amy, not sure I get the comparison of how a technical platform that operates on its own has any correlation to how internet media is more legitimate. Regardless, it's too bad that there won't be a larger movement to push better reporting in ALL media (including blogs, etc.) stemming from the CNN example versus solely focusing on CNN because it could be a chance to usher in real change. - Patricia

Curt: you misunderstood me. Any company should be concerned about waste. If they aren't, they wouldn't be in business. Are you saying EVERYONE working at CNN should be Tweeting about what's going on in Iran? That's insane. That's what journalists/reporters/editors should be doing. My point was more directed at engineers/devs who waste enough time tweeting when there are projects on tight deadline to be rolled out. This is applicable for many companies and that needs to be looked into. Waste by employees in public companies means waste of public $$$. - Moushumi Kabir

Patricia: I'm with you 210%. - Moushumi Kabir

When a car accident happens in a city, the first people to talk about it and report it are those who see it. Then it reaches media. Twitter is the digital/virtual equivalent. I think it's unfair to assume that the media can/should be everywhere to break every news item faster than its eye witnesses -- it did not happen in the old world, it isn't any different with the web. This is unrelated to any bias, etc. that CNN may have done w/Iran. It just never makes sense to me that people are surprised, shocked, etc. that PEOPLE break news faster than media. How do you think the media used to hear about the news in the past? - Patricia

Patricia: I agree with much of your last comment. However, when CNN is largely ignoring the story (as it was at many points or most of yesterday, per Robert's post) then it's pretty sad. Yes, the first people to report about the car accident are the people on the ground - and it's not fair to criticize "MSM" for not being there to report it. Which is why we need to reconsider what journalism really is. Citizen journalists are breaking news -- empowered by new communication tools. But CNN's ignoring of the story is a bit sad. Which may be why their ratings are in the toilet. - Curt Mercadante

@Curt, and on a smaller level, every time I see biz bloggers ignore entrepreneurs who are 500x better than half the ones people write about, I feel the same way. Or, when I watch media and blogs bias towards their insider connections, etc. What I'm saying is not that CNN ignoring the story isn't sad -- what's sad is that CNN ignoring the story isn't exposing the bigger problems littering American media. If you think CNN is the only one pulling this crap, you would be surprised. Here is everyone's chance to do something. - Patricia

Patricia: I see opportunity! Maybe we should be pioneers of the solution? To quote Gandhi: be the change we want to see? :-) - Moushumi Kabir

@Moushumi, lots try. I try. Unfortunately, ego, interests, money, etc. drive the majority of what's said in today's media/blog world -- not change. - Patricia

If there is anything good from this, it is that social media and individuals w/in these networks proved their real-time value - my mom (@purplepod) turned to Twitter after finding zero TV coverage and was up last night following those with coverage. She does not Twitter much, but finally realized that if there is anything to be found, it will be online. And not at cnn.com. - Liza

It's funny. CNN's Reliable Sources ran a segment questioning the need for Twitter in journalism. Rick Sanchez defended it saying he was able to interview someone in Tehran about the riot via Gmail all because of Twitter. The other guy, can't recall his name, labeled it another way our culture is going down the tubes, and the people on it have nothing substantial to say. - Eric @ CSTechcast.com

Please remember: CNN frequently says, and it is frequently said about CNN, that it cannot be beat in covering a big breaking news story--its bead and butter--and that no American network can match its international reach or global reporting network. They should be out front on this story. - Jay Rosen