The Twittersphere and Microblogging

Twitter: Journalism and the formation of online communities

A case study by A Brun and J Burgess on the 2010 Australian Federal Election and the use of Twitter.

Added slides for extra marking

Introduction

Twitter has become a standard element of general Internet usage in Australia.

Its involvement in the 2010 Australian Federal Election became a space for the general Internet users in Australia to provide commentary on political events and the media.

Added slides for extra marking

What was Twitter used for? #ausvotes

People provided commentary on political events, the media and largely focused on the personalities of the race rather than policy.

Communicate and engage with political parties, politicians, politics, journalist and other like-minded Australians.

A space to share feelings and opinions.

Creation of a community based around a mutual interest, where people with the same intentions have come to share their opinions on the Australian Election, as well as seeking information.

A professional space? #ausvotes

An increase of journalists signed up to Twitter such as @LaurieOaks, @michellegrattan and @ lenoretaylor

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott both opened Twitter accounts for this election (both are still active today).

A tweet from Gillard during the election wrote "The election will be on 21 August. With your support I will move Australia forward. JG

Examples of #ausvotes Tweets:

''i don't want to vote for either of them after watching this crap #middleclassnightmares #ausvotes

crazyjane13: Dear Mr Speaker, Please excuse Wyatt from Parliament today. He has a cold. Signed, Wyatts Mum. #ausvotes.

benbirchall: Nobodys in charge, Australia! Lets eat the condensed milk out of the can! #ausvotes.

adzap: It will truly be the death of chivalry if none of these independent men offer their seat to a lady. #ausvotes.

RT @mikfrawley: RT @oldspace Hello Australia. Look at your parliament, now back at me. Sadly, it isnt me, but it is hung like me. #ausvotes.

Brun and Burgess

explicit form of publicness, which invites attention from other participants in the #ausvotes conversation.

A conversation that engaged 36 287 unique Twitter users and 415 009 Tweets

Class discussion:

Is providing commentary a form of journalism in the microblogging sphere?

Opinion writing is journalism so is this form of microblogging in 140 characters not a form of journalism too?

Is the Twittersphere considered a form of citizen journalism?

Added slides for extra marking

Just a platform to throw around whats on your mind?

Its a platform where people are able to interact with the process of journalism rather than journalism itself.

Mapping the on-goings of the campaign rather than reporting news.

One tweet can undermine what is being said by a politician, giving us an honest perspective.

Activity

Spilt the room down into FOUR groups; journalists, general public, Jane Jones and John Smith.

We want you to REACT the way your group would do so in the following situation, using the Twitter format of 140 characters. Add #mdia5003 and @reply or reTweet at least one other Tweet made by someone else.

Pretend its the lead up to a Federal Election in our fictional country land, its John Smith up against Jane Jones once again. During the public debate John Smith swears, not in a derogatory way towards anyone in particular, he simply says the F-word. He is talking about his views on the proposed National Broadband Network, and how they should be scrapped to pay aid to those affected by the Northern State flood.

Added slides for extra marking

References:

Websites:

Birmingham, J (14th August 2010), In cyberia, all the twitters is not gold, Sydney Morning Herald online;

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/in-cyberia-all-that-twitters-is-not-gold-20100813-1239q.html

Bourke, L (29th July 2010), Twittersphere Day 11, Sydney Morning Herald online;

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/twittersphere-day-11-20100729-10wih.html

Bruns, A., (27th July 2010), All a-Twitter on the campaign, Sydney Morning Herald online;

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/all-atwitter-on-the-campaign-trail-20100727-10tl9.html#ixzz23lyljmWr

Delaney, B (29th July 2010), Our virtual selves linger on, long after weve shuffled off, Sydney Morning Herald online;

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/our-virtual-selves-linger-on-long-after-weve-shuffled-off-20100728-10w1w.html

Maley, J (7th August, 2010), Twitter, the new kid in town with all the hot goss..er, news, Sydney Morning Herald online;

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/twitter-the-new-kid-in-town-with-all-the-hot-goss--er-news-20100809-11rmu.html

Menzies House, Top 5 #ausvotes Twitter Posts, Menzies House blog online:

http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2010/08/top-5-ausvotes-twitter-posts.html

Articles:

Bruns, A. and Burgess, J. (2011), #ausvotes: How Twitter covered the 2010 Australian Federal Election in Communcation, Politics and Culture, Volume 44, Issue 2, RMIT Publishing: Australia, pages 37 56.

Java, A. Song, X., Finin, T. and Tseng, B. (2007), Why we Twitter: Understanding microblogging usage and communities in Proceeding, ACM Publishing: New York, page 56 65.

Lasorsa, D. L., Lewis, S. C. and Holton, A., E., (2012), Normalising Twitter: Journalism practice in an emerging communication space in Journalism Studies, Volume 13, Issue 1, Routledge: UK, pages 19 36.