Social Media and the Inauguration — the Ceremony in Tweets
This was the most wired inauguration in history
by Rachel Globus | Published in February 2009 From the Editor | Inauguration | political events | social media | Twitter | Departments
Ever since I discovered Twitter, I’ve begun to think in tweets. This Internet-based service allows you to send brief updates (aka, tweets) and read others’. At first, Twitter seemed somewhere between irrelevant and befuddling.
Then it became addictive.
Last month, I had the good fortune to be in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration. Imagine how many people sitting in heated rooms around the country watching it on TV could have shared my frigid experience in real time:
rachelES My view of the jumbotron is only partially obscured by a tree, a lamppost and a tall guy with a voluminous fur-lined hood. 8:17 AM Jan 20th
rachelES Tall people really shouldn’t be allowed to wear voluminous fur-lined hoods when they’re standing in front of people. 8:18 AM Jan 20th
rachelES I really want a voluminous fur-lined hood. 8:22 AM Jan 20th
rachelES It’s starting!!!!!!! 11:31 AM Jan 20th
rachelES me and two million other people have no idea how to get out of here. Hm. 12:21 PM Jan 20th
rachelES still tired still lost still freezing 12:54 PM Jan 20th
rachelES finally in line for the subway. 4:15 PM Jan 20th
rachelES getting kinda squished in line for the subway. 4:32 PM Jan 20th
rachelES GIVE ME SOME ROOM PEOPLE 4:38 PM Jan 20th
rachelES What’s “triage”? 5:01 PM Jan 20th
rachelES BED. 1:03 AM Jan 21st
This was the most wired inauguration in history. I got updates about inaugural events in my new D.C. zip code by texting “history” to 56333. The landscape of every event I attended was a sea of heads, with a foam of blue-screened cameras bobbling above. Some of those people would have instantly shared their pictures via Flickr, and perhaps some of those pictures showed up on the wall at Netroots Nation’s inaugural bash. The progressive online community had an interface created that pulled in text messages as well as feeds from Twitter and Flickr. At the party, I watched, mesmerized, as this “wi-fiti” projected on the wall showed pictures and messages from around the room and the globe.
Of course, Netroots’ community is by definition highly wired. Could it work for the rest of us? I don’t know yet. That’s why I started following ES at twitter.com/EventSolutions. As of this writing, I was one of 87 followers who will learn what’s going on with Event Solutions’ Conference and Tradeshow, ask questions, find out what others are wearing to the Spotlight Awards, exchange useful tips, and in the process, define what this new medium means for our industry.
rachelES I’m excited. Are you? 10:40 AM Jan 23rd
About the author: Rachel Globus
Rachel Globus is the former editor and education director for Event Solutions.