It matters if CBC's Rosie is on your trail: The Election Twitter Coverage

The Twitterverse is a funny thing.

Last night Iggy was in Winnipeg in front of a motivated and passionate crowd numbering about 1,100. He gave a barn-burner of a speech; one that clearly articulated his positions and was even newsworthy for what he had to say about the polls. Sadly, the event received very little "twitter" coverage from the national reporters tasked to Iggy's campaign. I am not blaming them - just stating a fact. The reporters in question just don't happen to twitter all that much.

On the other hand, Jack Layton is in Winnipeg this morning at a considerably smaller rally (600 people max.) giving a much less substantive speech than Iggy gave last night - but he is receiving 4-5 times the twitter attention. Especially from CBC's @RosieBarton. Again, I am not blaming Rosie. She is a fine reporter, as are many of the others from other news-outlets now covering Layton. It's just a fact that Rosie twitters more than most - so, ergo, Jack is getting more digital ink today than Iggy got last night.

Guess it has always been true. Even before the advent of the age of social media. Simple fact is and always has been that: who a news organization assigned to a given campaign greatly impacted how that campaign was portrayed to the public. J.W. Dafoe comes to mind. Not all reporters or their "inks" are created equal. And for those of us today who occasionally dwell on social media networking sites such as Twitter,the impact is both immediate, perceptible, and stark. In today's world, he who gets the most "ink" on a campaign trail is invariably the one being covered by those reporters with the most active thumbs! Is it fair to the under-served candidate trying to get his message out? Probably not. Is it biased? Absolutely not. A news organization's resources are tight, and not all campaigns can be accorded equal treatment. That being said... I do think Iggy has been under served in the last week and a half.

So what's the scoop? Fact, if an @RosieBarton or an @kady from CBC are covering your campaign you have a much better chance of getting your message out quicker & more often than those candidates who get two crotchety old dudes with bifocals, carbuncles, & arthritic thumbs assigned to their trail. In the Twitterverse that's just the way it is!

Andrew Coyne touchy on Twitter this #elxn41: I thought he was made of sterner stuff.

acoyne acoyne

Fascinating. Ppl who know nothing abt physics generally defer to physicists. But economics... ppl think they can craft it to their designs.

14 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne re: "Ppl who know nothing abt ...economics... think they can craft it to their designs." = A $55B CPC Harper deficit! #elxn41

acoyne acoyne

Ivison http://j.mp/g2bIJ4 and Ibbitson http://j.mp/fPcM01 see it more the way I do.

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne re:"Ivison...and Ibbitson ...see it more the way I do." No surprise, you're all in the same bubble and spit swaping the same meme's!

acoyne acoyne

Let's be clear: 5 fraud convictions is certainly more shocking than 2. But still a mystery why a guy w/even 1 conviction was anywhr near PM

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne re: your Q-"still a mystery why a guy w/even 1 conviction was anywhr near PM"- A: he knows, your bias - - he can get away with it!

acoyne acoyne

I'm sorry: I wouldn't hire a guy with a fraud conviction to deliver a pizza.

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne "I'm sorry: I wouldn't hire a guy with a fraud conviction to deliver a pizza." No? WTF? But U endorse his boss? #elxn41 #cdnpoli

acoyne acoyne

@WinnipegFatArse I don't endorse any1. U hv rare ability 2 ignore evidence that contradicts yr pov. Have u read anything else I've written?

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne With all do respect Sir, yes... I 've read all your writings for decade+. From my vantage point you are this election, solidly [1/3]

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne [2/3 con'd] an economic determinist who is prone to "70's era' reductionism about LP platform -but unwilling to apply 80's analysis

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne [3/3] that highlights the similarities of the flawed economic assumptions Harpo [i.e. Reagan?] is betting on during our recession.

acoyne acoyne

@WinnipegFatArse You can call me an economic determinist, whatever the hell that is, if you like. But spare me the "partisan" crap...

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne re: "spare me the "partisan" crap"? A determinist who only sees one side of the ledger IS "Partisan"= economy needs social component

acoyne acoyne

@WinnipegFatArse Fine. So you *disagree* with me. Adults disagree without impugning each other's motives, ethics or professionalism.

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne I'll leave you be now... BTW, wasn't impugning your motives "just the lenses you use" - ever in WPG look me up- we can resume then;)

acoyne acoyne

@WinnipegFatArse We have nothing more to discuss, then.

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne Pity, but do take care.

[...THEN THE "UN-FOLLOWING" OCCURED... COYNE BARRED ME!]

WinnipegFatArse Fat Arse

@acoyne On the basis our earlier give&take U took offense? Now I am prohibited from "following"? Really? Silly, sad, and surreal. #elxn41

8 hours ago Favorite Reply Delete

*** FIN ***

[addendum: I really thought he was made of sterner stuff.]