The270 Prods the Columbus Dispatch to Actively Twitter

Posted on March 18, 2008 by wyliemac

At least that’s my version of the truth. I’ll report. You decide.

First, the Columbus Dispatch did establish a Twitter account at DispatchAlerts. They did so on November 30, 2007. But they posted one update on that day. Then they posted an update on December 1. Then nothing. Until April 17, 2008. FOUR days AFTER I suggest to the Dispatch to start twittering.

Hmmm.  While they will NEVER admit to it, little do they know that I have bugged their offices. What follows is a transcript of a recent conversation between editor Benjamin Marrison and columnist Joe Blundo.

— Begin transcript —

Marrison: BLUNDO!

Blundo: Yes Mr. Marrison.

M: Get your ass in here.

B: Right away sir.

M: Did you see that crap in the270?

B: Uh, the two … seventy? Sir?

M: Oh come on Blundo, get with the times. The270 is just the coolest Columbus blog out there. Geez, and you call yourself a reporter! What do I pay you for?

B: Actually, I’m a columnist sir. I don’t have to report.

M: Yea, yea. Whatever. Anyways, can you believe that ass over at the270 is telling us what to do?

B: What’s that exactly?

M: He’s telling us to start twittering.

B: Twittering?

M: Oh come on. What are you, a twit? Here, go read this. [Marrison hands Blundo a printout of the270 post]

B: Oh. I’ve heard of this. Didn’t we start an account a while back?

M: Yea. I assigned Tim May to start twitting, but he had his head so far up Tressel’s [back side] that he dropped the ball. I want you to start twitting. And do it now. And do it often.

B: Yes sir. Whatever you say.

M: And another thing. Dig up some dirt on that the270 guy. I heard he used to work for that great Republican Kenny Blackwell, but now is supporting Obama. What kind of self respecting Republican is he?

B: I thought we were supposed to be non-partisan.

M: Blundo, get the f out of here before I kick you out.

— End of transcript —

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  • wyliemac
    Aww! Don't rain on my parade. :) The trouble with RSS feeds for me, is that I've got so many in my reader that I end up not reading them. I can live with the impersonality of the media twits.
  • I'm _sure_ it was you, ;-) but…

    a possible alternative scenario is that they reserved a twitter-name and started work on a script to pipe headlines to it? Notice how the first couple of tweets seem tentative and 'hand-written'… then starting on the 17th it's nothing but business. Tweets derived from Article head + link. Looks automated to me.

    (Which, btw, is why I won't be following. I like some personality in my twitter-stream. If all I want is headlines, I can subscribe to their RSS.)
  • wyliemac
    Aww! Don't rain on my parade. :) The trouble with RSS feeds for me, is that I've got so many in my reader that I end up not reading them. I can live with the impersonality of the media twits.
  • Bryce
    I'm _sure_ it was you, ;-) but…


    a possible alternative scenario is that they reserved a twitter-name and started work on a script to pipe headlines to it? Notice how the first couple of tweets seem tentative and 'hand-written'… then starting on the 17th it's nothing but business. Tweets derived from Article head link. Looks automated to me.



    (Which, btw, is why I won't be following. I like some personality in my twitter-stream. If all I want is headlines, I can subscribe to their RSS.)
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