Highlighting recent news and images in Arizona—via tweets.
By Mike Saucier @MikeTheSauce
The dogged pursuit of the Boston bombers marked a watershed week on Twitter across the country and here in AZ. Information moved quickly, sometimes too quickly, as is the nature of the medium. Political consultant Shane Wikfors summed it up right when he tweeted: “Twitter IS the NEW source for breaking news.” Now, when there is a large scale news event, it seems Twitter gives the best overall picture of what is happening—that is, if you’re following the right people.
ONE THING AT A TIME
Tempe’s Nathan Sproul: “Sad to see both sides of gun debate using #boston as justification for their position. Get through crisis first. Geez.”
BOMBER LOSERS
Daily Star columnist Tim Steller: “The Boston bombers’ uncle just gave them the label that will stick. Their motivation: ‘Being losers.’”
PRESIDENT UNCLE RUSLAN?
Gov. Brewer’s communications guy Drew Sexton tweeted: “Uncle Ruslan 2016”
TWITTER & JOURNALISM
12 News producer Lauren Peikoff: “Final thought on this wild day that ends a wild week – accuracy always beats speed. Always. #tvnews #news #journalism”
Fox 10 reporter Kari Lake: “@laurenpeikoff for those who want details carved in stone check back in 2 days. This is fluid. Breaking news ain’t always pretty #its2013
Lake also tweeted: “twitter ain’t for the faint or sensitive. It’s TWITTER not Moses’ stones. Second-by-second is not perfect”
KPHO reporter Elizabeth Erwin: “I love the way social media gives us the news immediately, but the margin of error in reporting too soon is huge.”
Scottsdale’s own Leigh Munsil, now with Politico, tweeted a truism: “Anonymous sources = no accountability.”
East Valley Tribune managing editor Brett Fera confessed: “angry at self for contributing Boston Twitter/Scanner stuff last night. Riveting, but irresponsible. #hindsight #shouldknowbetter”
SHORT ANSWER=NO
3TV storyteller Stella Inger tweeted a pic and a fair question: “This comes out Thursday! Do you think Time Magazine went too far with this bloodied pic?”
SLEEP AND TWEETS
Runner’s Den owner Ann Wallack of Phoenix: “I’m thrilled to be home in Phoenix and I’m going to sleep late tomorrow. I can’t stop thinking about Boston tho”
The social media coordinator for the Rose Law Group, Melissa Johnson, tweeted: “I was up waaay too late reading everyone’s tweets about #Boston. I’m thoroughly impressed with all your reporting skills and quality tweets!”
IMMIGRATION AND BOSTON
FreedomWorks blogger Jon Gabriel of Mesa tweeted: “The bombings completely changed the immigration debate. The entire public argument can center on national security.”
Gabriel also tweeted: “Until Obama can answer how on earth terrorists were allowed in, and reform it so it won’t happen again, a grand immigration package is dead.”
BIG SHELTER IN PLACE
Phoenix PR guy Barrett Marson tweeted: “Can you imagine if the entire East Valley including ASU was locked down? #BostonToday”
HERE COME THE HOAXES
Good Morning Arizona producer Bobbi Jo Kelly: ”The bomb squad walking into Senator McCain/Flake’s building.
U.S. Senator Jeff Flake: “Suspicious pkg at my Phx office cleared, no dangerous material. Thx to Phx PD + FD, FBI, ATF + USPS for quick response. Everyone safe”
12 News reporter Brahm Resnick: “BREAKING (more 3/3) ATF, FBI called to @RepSinema‘s #PHX office for suspicious pkg. #PHX PD now say it was bagels. Oy vey! (Need a laugh)”
3TV’s Crystal Cruz: “Suspicious box in Tempe turns out to be nothing serious. “
RUNNING FOR PAT, BOSTON
Phoenix photographer Bruce Yeung tweeted a great pic of Cardinals players Larry Fitzgerald and Jay Feely: “@LarryFitzgerald and @jayfeely running w/ their buddies in the 2013 Pats Run at ASU. Great job guys!”
92.3 talk show host Bruce St. James tweeted: “I’m pacing myself off the guy in a walking cast…and he’s pulling away. #PatsRun”
Tempe City Council member Kolby Granville: “Great day for Pat’s Run!”
12 News reporter Lissette Martinez tweeted this and a pic: “Man says he did this in honor of fallen soldiers everywhere.”
Martinez tweeted this and another pic: “So inspiring.”
VIDEO NO NO
Phoenix sports photographer Mark J. Rebilas: “I sure hope there is a special place in hell for people who record video on their camera phones in vertical instead of horizontal…”
CAN’T ARGUE WITH THIS
Phoenix’s Rodd McLeod: “A real horse’s ass.”
BATS UNFORTUNATE
The D-Backs tweeted: “Rain outdoors = #Dbacks BP indoors”
BATHTIME FOR D-BACKS ‘CAVE’ MAN
The Major League Baseball Fan Cave tweeted a pic of Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall: “@DHallDbacks Thanks again for stopping by. That was a blast!”
IT’S THERE IF HE NEEDS IT
Willa Eigo tweeted a question about a photo of a man shopping in Target: “Is this a hatchet or an axe? You decide.”
GAMES OVER
Suns forward Jared Dudley: “Hate to see the Season be over! Now it’s time to pack up and head back to San Diego. I will miss you Phx. See u later “
STALL PEEPING
Local radio show co-host Johnjay Van Es: “While on the toilet, I enjoy watching ppl thru the crack in the stall door, ppl really stare at themselves, make weird faces and such.”
6th TIME’S A CHARM?
Cindy Brunson of Fox Sports Arizona tweeted: “Mother speaking to teenage daughter thru clenched teeth at DMV, *If you fail today, we’re not coming back a 7th time!* scary, smh.”
HELPING JAVIER
Charlotte Shaff of Phoenix tweeted: “Behind the scenes w @JavierSotoTV on GMAZ and Phx Mercury’s new player… Love this. LoL”
SAVE OUR SUSHI PLANET
Restaurant Sapporo Scottsdale tweeted: “Happy Earth Day! Sushi makes the world go round. At least this one.”
PLEASE GET LUCKY
Tempe reporter Dianna M. N Náñez tweeted: “#Tempe PD asks for public’s help to ‘get the word out’ about family’s 10-year-old dog Lucky stolen in a home burglary”
