Iran: Twitter Users' Outrage at CNN, Fox Triggers Coverage

The riveting coverage of the massive rebellion by what BBC estimates to be over a million people in the streets of Tehran continues over Twitter. In addition, European media have been providing active coverage led by eyewitness reports from reporters like Robert Fisk.

Twitter users expressed outrage for much of the weekend that CNN, and other U.S. mainstream media outlets, were barely covering the Iranian rebellion, which spontaneously erupted when the results of the hotly contested Presidential election were announced. Some of the anti-CNN sentiment appeared at one point to be driven by Fox News, ironically; before long, however, an anti-Fox movement started sweeping over Twitter as well.

From a media industry perspective, therefore, the anger via Twitter at MSM appears to be ideologically agnostic.

Today, all major news organizations are finally catching up to current developments, as the protesters have reportedly gained the upper hand and the government is stepping away from crackdown mode. The government has said it will investigate reports of election fraud, and negotiations will be underway soon to find a peaceful resolution to the matter.

From a business perspective, this weekend’s developments solidify Twitter’s role as the people’s choice for breaking news. But, the anger directed at CNN and others indicates a collective sense of dependency on major media, as well.  In the coming days and weeks, we can expect some soul-searching from media execs about how they can catch up with the crowd in this era of runaway crowd-sourcing of the news.

Here, also, is another brief selection of the news stream from the ground in Tehran:

• emmykn RT @TheShadowAtNigh AP Confirms gunfire. AP Reports at least 1 dead. #iranelection less than 10 seconds ago from web
• g_fox CONF! there is #shooting in #Azadi sq. protesters wounded and shot, no numbers yet, still hearing gunfire. #Iranelection (via @iran09) less than 10 seconds ago from Tweetie
• oli2be people are running in streets outside. There is panic in streets.people going ino houses to hide. #Iranelection (via @persiankiwi) less than 10 seconds ago from Tweetie
• cooket KCinWPB RT @DCBrent RT @habibsaher: murder at Azadi square, they are shooting at people, 3 dead, please help! #IranElection less than 20 seconds ago from web
• alfieuk Mousavi calls all Iranians to chant “Allaho Akbar” from Rooftops everynight. #iranelection less than 20 seconds ago from web
• mideastyouth RT @IranRiggedElect 119 faculty members of TehranU resigned in protest of student treatment by militia last night #iranelection half a minute ago from web

I have just been watching Tweets reported on both CNN and Fox, so perhaps a new age of convergence has arrived this weekend.

Thanks to Thierry Lamouline for forwarding me multiple links to reports that informed this post.