A-Twitter over Rick Sanchez's CNN newscast

CNN’s Rick Sanchez, who uses social media outlets such as ­Twitter and ­Facebook, had his laptop at the ready while ­reporting on Hurricane Ike. Image courtesy of CNN.

A little less than two weeks ago, many people in the nation were stunned when the U.S. House of Representatives voted not to approve a $700 billion financial bailout package, with many congressmen saying they were carrying out their constituents’ wishes.

The bailout had to be passed, a lot of observers had said. Wasn’t that obvious?

Well, I knew there were a lot of people who thought that wasn’t so obvious, and it’s not because I’m some sort of genius swami or more in touch with the average Joe than a six-pack of PBR.

No, I’ll honestly say that insight came from watching Rick Sanchez from 3 to 4 p.m. ­weekdays on CNN Newsroom.

Sanchez had caught my eye a few months back when CNN was on at my desk and I noticed that he was heavily ­referencing posts to his Facebook and Twitter pages. The social media ­outlets drive a healthy percentage of Sanchez’s newscast with ­ongoing commentary.

For those who don’t live their lives online, ­Facebook and MySpace, which ­Sanchez also uses, are social media sites that allow members to relay what they are up to and engage in conversations online. Twitter is what is known as micro-blogging, ­allowing users to “tweet,” or share bursts of thought or information in 140 ­characters or fewer.

On Newsroom, there are days when the social media simply provide interesting chats about what’s being covered on the show, sort of like high-tech talking heads at the bottom of the screen as in Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

At other times, though, it gets quite significant, as in the days leading up to that first vote on the bailout.

“I am frankly appalled that, we, (sic) the taxpayers are not able to vote on how our money is being thrown away,” a Twitter poster wrote on the Sept. 23 show.

The day before, a tweet read, “It’s highly ironic that the same people that scare average Americans about evil socialized medicine are now cheering socialized capitalism.”

This week, the drama on Sanchez’s show has been spiked a bit by the fact that he is on the air during the final hour of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The social media has had other interesting manifestations, including during ­Hurricane Ike, when Sanchez was reading Twitter posts from people at or near the center of the storm.

At times, the show has quietly let the comments roll, either putting them on a crawl at the bottom of the screen or just putting them on camera. Last Wednesday, while Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson was holding a news conference, Sanchez’s Twitter board was showing in a split screen as a sort of running commentary on Paulson’s speech. Hint: Not everyone was happy.

Sometimes it can seem like a lot of venting, and not all of it particularly well informed. But to CNN’s credit, I have yet to see the news net broadcast an unsubstantiated rumor or scurrilous accusation, and I am sure they get them. Most of the ­comments are, to a large extent, ­anonymous, with people using screen names that might not reflect their real names.

Sanchez gets a variety of opinion, which you can see if you look at his Twitter feed or discussion boards on Facebook. Thursday’s show concentrated on the role of race in the election, and comments ranged from people accusing Sanchez of bringing race into the ­election to people praising him for discussing something that was already there.

Who knows where this format might go. Is it just exploiting a new technology that, really, you can already immerse into your life? Or will more broadcasters follow suit and immerse social media into other shows? I’m surprised that we haven’t seen more of this in, say, post-debate coverage.

In a 24-hour news world, often dominated by the same ol’ talking heads, Sanchez’s approach is refreshing, bringing an easily ­accessible populist voice into the ­conversation. Sometimes, it even can be quite informative.

Comments

[Michael Anderson]

It is so sad to see our own people turning on eachother to the point that we actually begrudge another making a decent living. People, it is the 98% of us that need to stick together because if we don't, all we are doing is playing into the corrupt hands of the other 2%.

[Anita Vincent]

I can remember that the resession of '29 was cured because the auto industry picked America up out of the gutter by offering jobs to thousands, which boosted the steel industry, all of the needed outside trades, the tire trade the designers, upholstry people sales, and the hundreds of other trades men and after market industries. I understand that the auto companies are not asking for a bailout but a LOAN. I for one believe we should help them, allow them to correct the mistakes they have made in management and believe they will save our country again- IF allowed to.

[Don]

Why don't the senators ask GM about all those popular electric cars that they rounded up and scrapped?????

[tim]

i make just over 14 dollors an hour no pention was hired by gm during the summer i dont want to lose my HIGH paying job gm has been working on it

[Ron Rhoten]

Rick baby, you keep harping about UAW workers having 30 and out. What about the thousands of policemen and firemen that can retire after 20 years. These people are strickly on the taxpayers back. At least GM sells/sold cars at a profit,huh?

[curiouswayne]

Listen America, about gay marriage......It is sematics......let the haters have the word "marriage" it's just a word. What we want the rights that go along with marriage. We don't have to have the word marriage. Civil unions would do just fine as long as we have the rights that go with it.

[mike in southern calif]

reguarding protest of proposition 8 it seems the religious right has been using the anti-gay messge for political gain for years we saw this with racial inequality in our country ? what ever happend to treat people all the same Hence treat all people with all rights.

[Jayne Keatts]

I want Hillary in a position of power so she can help us.

[MARILYN]

MY DAD WORKED WITH THE CCC IN THAT LATE 1930'S. HE SPOKE OF IT PROUDLY. WHEN HE FINISHED HE WAS ABLE TO GET EMPLOYMENT WITH KODAK AND REMAINED WITH THEM FOR 37 YEARS. I THINK A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, TO REAPIR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS GREAT. ROADS, BRIDGES WHATEVER NEED WORK !!

[JR]

rick,America is gradually becoming more & more racist.One would expect a nation that is totally illiterate to function as our white community in general view any other color than"white".As we saw Greta Van Sustern this so call educated Lawyer on Fox News Network(The Most Trusted &Unbiased Network),reminded her viewers lastnight that this was a deplorable act,which I TOTALLY agree with.However,she appeared extremely excited as if to think this woman was telling the truth.I notice she seems to ALWAYS find a way to stir up any kind of RACIAL situation.She is one of the many reasons why America can't go "FORWARD"!!!Maybe this message will reach her & she will take INVENTORY of her CAUSTIC behavior in the way in which she is taking her message to the viewers.If greta doesn't know it by now there are a large group of folks that need to be in a mental instution rather than being on our so call SAFE streets like Ms. Todd who made that false police report in Pennsylvania that a black man had beaten her up.TRUST ME,looks like White people are trying to start a race war.NOW is the time our government should stand up and be counted and not allow this CANCER TO RAISE IT'S UGLY HEAD!!! I don't know if they are aware that FOREIGN countries are watching & judging our actions &to see exactly how well we can get along.We as minorities know too well how it must be difficult when it comes to facing FACTS that WHITE people WILL eventually have to relinquish some if not ALL of that power that they swore they would NEVER give up,or over their dead bodies!!! May I REITERATE FOX NETWORK is devisive/bias!!!
Thank you Rick for allowing me to vent my concerns which I hope will bring about the way in which the media will recognize that we the public would appreciate them remaining neutral and not giving their OPINION!!!Whenever the media does this they become a part of the problem,thus turning the VIEWERS OFF.TO be honest the media should hire those who does their job so well(CONSULTANTS/EXPERTS).

[Mini]

Rick is doing a fair informative background check on Palin who is clearly the "real" domestic terrorist who does a good job inciting fear and anger among her supporters. She's a wolf in sheeps clothing. I fear for Obama's safety and the honor of our country who stands for Peace and Harmony among people of all races and differences in opinion.

Obama "the peacemaker" '08