Social Media & Breaking News
In Blogging News, Social Media, Social Networking, Web 2.0 | No comment
Social media sites have become an important tool for breaking news, many times breaking a story before the mainstream media picks it up. Sites such as Twitter have also been important communication tools for those affected by the events as they unfold.
Yesterday, news about a shooting in Fort Hood, Texas, shocked the country and almost instantly became a trending topic on Twitter. The massacre, which killed 12 and left 31 wounded, sparked interest and supporters from around the world — many of whom ended up leaving comments on the Army’s social media sites. The Facebook group “Prayers for Fort Hood” was started soon after word spread, and currently it has just more than 20,000 supporters. The U.S. Army‘s Facebook page was also flooded with support and prayers from people around the world. As one person wrote, “My prayers go out to the family and friends of the fallen heroes. It’s time we remember to pray for all our soldiers regardless of where they are.” (more…)
When Continental Flight 104 careened off the runway at the Denver international airport, it resulted in a broken fuselage, burning flames, torn away landing gear and engine, and temperatures so high that the interior compartments actually began to melt. The crash left thirty-eight injured and no deaths.