This is the first in an ongoing installment that takes a weekly look at how New Mexican's are utilizing Twitter to digest, comment on and reformat the news of the day. For those unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a social web application that allows users to connect and "follow" other users, giving the ability to post messages and view messages of the created network in real time. Each post is limited to 140 characters. The brevity of the format, its accessibility by smartphone, and its ability to reach large audiences immediately, has transformed the world of "breaking news." It has also transformed the way people comment on the news. Applications like TweetDeck and HootSuite allow users to edit and comment on “Tweets” they find in their feed and pass on to their personal audience. Users pass on URL’s to news stories, images and videos or simply use text to comment on anything they wish. New Mexico Mercury uses Twitter to distribute the stories that appear on the site, keep up with any breaking news of the day, as well as to aggregate timely and important tweets to our “Who’s Talking” widget on the right side of our homepage.
So here’s a roundup of last week. Let us know what you think.
Activism at the ABQ City Council on Monday
@krqe @KOATLiveUpdates @ABQ_News Journalism is not just repeating #APD press briefings. Any real news about Mary Hawkes' killing? #dojapd
— William Budd (@billybudd888) May 5, 2014
@ChrisMcKeeTV: ABQ City Council meeting. Expected to discuss proposals to change hiring policies for hiring APD Chief pic.twitter.com/zLlhHLyQsc
— KRQE News 13 (@krqe) May 5, 2014
Council meeting ends as protesters try to make a “people’s” arrest of @ABQPOLICE Chief http://t.co/NpLMswB6yv pic.twitter.com/zlVvacZeHN
— ABQJournal (@ABQJournal) May 6, 2014
RT @ChrisMcKeeTV: Protest has shut down ABQ city council pic.twitter.com/Ny3qSwgDdf
— KRQE News 13 (@krqe) May 6, 2014
RT @cjproctor74: The protestors have the dais now. pic.twitter.com/WyYwiRqEUm
— KRQE News 13 (@krqe) May 6, 2014
#APD kills 25 since 2010. We seize #ABQ city council. @ 12:09 in the video you'll see democracy in action #APDprotest http://t.co/9iWekv8YCo
— David Correia (@DavidCorreiaABQ) May 6, 2014
We seized the city council mtg, the police fled, incl Chief Eden and held the people's mtg! #APDProtest pic.twitter.com/1KSuBCa4W5
— David Correia (@DavidCorreiaABQ) May 6, 2014
Our speech that started it all. Sanchez didn't let me finish reading Eden his rights. #APDProtest pic.twitter.com/pqoNe1gpnR
— David Correia (@DavidCorreiaABQ) May 6, 2014
.@ABQJournal reporter @mckaydan & host Gene Grant (@dredlockflaneur) talk about the protests that shut down ABQ City Council. Tune in at 7P.
— New Mexico in Focus (@NMinFocus) May 9, 2014
Reconvened on Thursday night
"You're not worth addressing." A look at last night's City Council meeting: http://t.co/fm0eQAwsGP #abq #APDProtest
— Dan McKay (@mckaydan) May 9, 2014
Garduño said he is tired of people demonizing our efforts to end police brutality because of 'our own right' thank u pic.twitter.com/fvpG4icvvg
— Albuquerque CopBlock (@ACopBlock) May 9, 2014
Power to the people. We will be heard even in silence. pic.twitter.com/pGWiGyj7uy
— Albuquerque CopBlock (@ACopBlock) May 9, 2014
More dirt on Martinez & Co. from Mother Jones
Explosive: Mother Jones reports whistleblower lawsuit against Econ Director Barela & deputy Brazil. They deny charges http://t.co/dMFbcpzkcL
— Joe Monahan (@newsguy44) May 8, 2014
Dem Guv candidates Rael & Morales smoking Martinez over explosive corruption charges and breaking in nat'l media http://t.co/dMFbcpzkcL
— Joe Monahan (@newsguy44) May 8, 2014
@MotherJones claims are serious & could be detrimental to #NM’s reputation. They need to be immediately addressed by administration #nmpol
— Tim Keller (@tk4nm) May 8, 2014
Political Ads hit TV
See my 1st TV ad about @Gov_Martinez and the billionaire Koch bothers—how their agenda is a clear contrast to mine. http://t.co/BGbKk2tTuf
— Alan Webber (@AlanForNM) May 7, 2014
AD watch: Guv Martinez releases new TV ad. Talks about money she saved from selling state jet https://t.co/bXrNY3Acvs
— Joe Monahan (@newsguy44) May 7, 2014
Great KRQE coverage last night on the release of our newest TV ad. NM needs a governor who will restore trust. #NMpol http://t.co/gTJuGD4AjA
— Rael for New Mexico (@Rael_for_NM) May 1, 2014
Clown Shoes
Alan Webber goes straight for the 5% liberal fringe with ad most voters won't even understand. #nmpol
— Darren White (@darrenPwhite) May 7, 2014
Shoot With The Colonel: Allen Weh, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, is hosting a unique campaign event Su... http://t.co/8ZhdghKsXP
— Land of Enchantment (@NMgov) May 9, 2014
.@fbihop is not media-- he's a Soros lackey & member of @dailykos. He is part of far-Left crew including @joeypeters & @justinhorwath.#nmpol
— Politix Fireball™ (@PolitixFireball) May 8, 2014
Not Your Average Raffle: Win a custom built @BlackBriarNV .50 Cal or .556 for just $20. Tickets for sale here: https://t.co/wL44qbRVIm
— NMBusinessCoalition (@NMBizCoalition) May 6, 2014
More next week. If you think there's a Tweet that should be highlighted, point it out to the Mercury on Twitter or use the hashtag #NMTwittersphere.
(Image derived from works by Nicolas Raymond and Andreas Eldh)
May 10, 2014