Marketing Consultant Triggers Reporter's Twitter Meltdown
A marketing consultant who did not return a phonecall from a reporter at Canada’s National Post seems to have triggered that reporter’s curse-filled meltdown — on Twitter.
The consultant, April Dunford of Rocket Launch Marketing, had been called by reporter David George-Cosh, who covers technology for the NP. Dunford was apparently not quick enough to pick up the phone in return.
Dunford posted this tweet on her miniblog: “Reporter to me “When the media calls you, you jump, OK!?” Why, when you called me and I’m not selling? Newspapers will get what they deserve”
That started a cavalcade of phone abuse from the reporter, which Dunford repeated on Twitter:
THEN the reporter (who by the way, I don’t know at all) calls me back and says “What the fuck was up with that Twitter message?!” Like, wow.
THEN the same reporter leaves me a message and says “That was very f#@cking unprofessional of you blah, blah” Um, wow. I’m speachless.
The following exchange then ensued (click on image for a large screen grab):
sirdavid: @aprildunford what the fuck. I called you for comment two days ago. What did you expect when you called me back? Don’t post that shit online
sirdavid: @aprildunford furthermore, I called you several times in the afternoon. Don’t be condescending to me when I actually wanted to talk to you
sirdavid: @aprildunford how about you stop blasting personal conversations on twitter and call me back. what the hell is wrong with you.
aprildunford: @sirdavid All I did was return your call. I didn’t expect you to do anything. Wow. Like, seriously, calm down.
sirdavid: @aprildunford & then repost everything? & then hang up on me & don’t call back? I’ve recorded everything. U don’t look as nice as u put on
aprildunford: @sirdavid Dude - I never said who you were. Twitter meet David. David is having a bad day. David, meet Twitter.
sirdavid: @aprildunford hey april - fuck you. seriously. fuck you.
sirdavid: @aprildunford if u can’t handle any heat from what u post and immediate hang up, fuck u. u know my number. u call if you want to settle.
aprildunford: @sirdavid Re-read what you have just Twittered. Then re-read what I Twittered. Deep breaths David. Calm.
MediaStyle’s Ian Capstick noted this potential explanation for George-Cosh’s behavior:
Perhaps this had something to do with this tweet posted moments before he let loose on Ms. Dunford: “Well, it sounds like the cat is out of the bag - I’m quitting the National Post for a job at a newspaper in Abu Dhabi. More in a blog post.
While the remarks were made on the reporter’s personal Twitter account, the conversation first began when the reporter was acting in his capacity as a reporter for the Financial Post.
We hold — and will continue to hold — all our reporters to a higher standard in how they address anyone, in any forum.
We apologize for the reporter’s conduct.
Jim Edwards, a former managing editor of Adweek, has covered drug marketing at Brandweek for four years, and is a former Knight-Bagehot fellow at Columbia University's business and journalism schools. Follow him on Twitter or send him an email.
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