Jim Long, veteran NBC cameraman and up and coming micromedia mogul just promoted the heck out of Meet the Press using Twitter. For those who haven’t heard, Twitter is a service which lets you send short text messages to friends via cell phone, instant messaging, and the web. Jim Currently has around 170 people who choose to receive his Twitter messages. So, this morning, Jim was shooting video for NBC’s Meet the Press. I got to follow along (in between making huevos rancheros, brushing my teeth, and reading the New York Times). Here are Jim’s messages as they unfolded during the Meet the Press shoot:
–Busy day at NBC today. Studio cam for Meet The Press, then interview, b-roll, standp for investigative unit.
–One minute to the open of Meet the Press
–Russert’s first guest is Gen. Anthony Zinni. It’s FREEZING IN THE studio
–Gen Zinni smart man with good ideas. He says one term 6 yr presidential
–Now press round tables
–Russert just said ‘bitch’ and ‘ho’ appropriately in context
–VERY interesting discussion today about 2 hours ago
Russert lofts notion of imus ressurecting career devoted to show on race conciliation
–Breaking down the set about
If you didn’t see Meet the Press on air WELL worth watching on MSNBC.COM
Ok, so why should Tim Russert give Jim Long a big hug?
1) I actually want to watch Meet the Press after following these messages.
2) I bet lots of other people who follow Jim’s messages on Twitter do too. This is good for NBC.
I can just hear Mr. Russert saying, look if only 170 people follow Jim, who cares?
Then someone would need to explain: The kind of people who use Twitter are highly connected people who use technology to spread ideas; many of us are bloggers, like me for example. We may well blog about what Jim reports. This multiplies the effects of Jim’s messages. Plus, Jim has just been twittering for a month or so and he already has 170 followers. This is only going to grow. You, Tim Russert, should recognize the service Jim is doing and put a spotlight on it, and promote it, because he is helping promote you. He’s a Twitter micropundit, promoter, reporter, all of the above. He’s creating teasers that will make people want to tune in and spread the word. Take my advice Mr. Russert, and while you are at it, give Jim Long a great big hug. Is that too much too ask?
twitter/jonnygoldstein
3 responses so far ↓
Twitter Promotes Ideas, Shows, the Brand | Verge New Media // Apr 15, 2007 at 12:51 pm
[…] So that translates into one “confirmed” person who was influenced by my real-time behind the scenes reporting. And as DC Media Maker, videoblogger and media consultant Jonny Goldstein points out: The kind of people who use Twitter are highly connected people who use technology to spread ideas; many of us are bloggers, like me for example. We may well blog about what Jim reports. This multiplies the effects of Jim’s messages. […]
SpaceyG // Apr 15, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Anyone who promotes my boy Jim is a friend of mine. And I have many many friends, Mr. Russert. And they’re the kind of friends you actually earn the old-fashioned way, through great living, not by just blowing wind on TV.
‘Course I got plenty of enemies by now too, but who counts those hate-monkeys anyways?!!
Connie Reece // Apr 15, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I haven’t watched MTP in years, but jim’s enthusiasm about it the last 2 Sundays have caused me to tune in. In fact, I now have a new appreciation for network news after getting to know Jim through Twitter and his blog.
NBC management would do well to pay attention. And Mr. Russert, if you start using Twitter, I’ll be your follower. (Hint: FOX News gets it. They send out tweets with their news headlines and links to the Web site.)
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