Last Wednesday, journalists from Sky News were sent into G20 Protests to use Twitter and Twitpic and report on events at ground level. Below is a small excerpt of the content they produced on the day. The full coverage is here:
Sky reporters use Twitpic during the G20 Protests
1:01 juliareid21: Around twenty tents pitched and a jovial atmosphere. Heading to american embassy to see what is what #g20
1:02 alexwatts: G20 Woman in long black veil calls for bigger bonuses for bankers in Ab Fab voice. Irony may be lost on the American contingent here 1:03 juliareid21: If you are not already see our joint feed at http://www.skynews.com #g20
1:05 juliareid21: Few protesters outside rbs headquarters but about twelve police officers and a metal fence #g20 1:07 damienpearse: #G20 Police helmets are tossed into air in Threadneedle Street.
1:07 damienpearse: #G20 Police appear to block off all exits from main square. Anger mounts.
1:09 Sky News: No word from Gold Command on how injured the police officer hurt at the Bank of England is – Sky’s Martin Brunt.
1:09 damienpearse: #G20 Police officer tells protester he will have to urinate in the street as exits blocked.
1:11 damienpearse: #G20 Can of cider thrown at officers. Barricade in Threadneedle Street under strain.
1:13 alexwatts: Police refusing to let anyone leave city protest area by Bank of England. 50 cops just ran in to make arrests. Agitated scenes
1:13 damienpearse: #G20 Teenage girl caught in the crush sobs. Is helped away by a camera crew.
1:18 juliareid21: Cabbie says lots of colleagues stayed home to avoid the aggravation and road closures #g20
1:18 juliareid21: http://twitpic.com/2of0f – Protesters climb up a Tube sign. 1:23 damienpearse: #G20 Riot police move in to Threadneedle Street. 1:23 1:23 damienpearse: #G20 Missiles launched at riot police.
1:28 alexwatts: Protesters screaming let us out as police hem crowds in. Beer bottles thrown at police. Some activists covering their faces with masks
A common example of a picture taken on the day by a Sky journalist.
This sort of reporting is much akin to ’embedded journalism’ which was used in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While this method is not uninteresting, it’s not entirely helpful as it only conveys snippets of what’s happening at ground level. Why, for instance, weren’t the Sky journalists at Gold Command not tweeting. Why wasn’t there a reporter in Sky’s helicopter tweeting on what he or she could see from above and give us a broader picture? And finally, why only Sky journalists? Why not publish tweets from protesters to get a broader scope of feeling plus an idea of what was unfolding through the eyes of people who were there as well as their own journalists?
Let’s take a look at how the BBC used Social Media to cover the protest do see if it differs. Below is a snapshot of their news website’s live coverage:
1630 The BBC’s Dominic Hurst texts: Interesting chatter on twitter at the moment. Some protestors are saying police are calm and fair and letting them have a good day out.
1627 The Prime Minister’s spokesman says the G20 leaders are making good progress but they are “not there yet”. The spokesman adds that there is an “emerging degree of consensus… but there are still a number of issues that need ironing out”.
1625 The BBC’s Dominic Casciani says: Its a completely different mood at Trafalgar Square. A few thousand people have come down here for the Stop the War Coalition march. It’s a classic demo calling for troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, a bit of Palestinian solidarity and a nuclear-free world.
1622 The BBC’s Rob Broomby says: Pretty calm now outside the Bank of England. Police are standing off for the moment and what’s left of the protesters are standing outside the Bank’s gates, dancing and shouting.
1619 The anti-war protesters gathered at Trafalgar Square sing Happy Birthday to veteran left-winger Tony Benn, who turns 84 on Friday. “We want democracy, freedom, justice and peace,” he tells them.
1610 The BBC’s Ben Brown on Threadneedle Street says: Just after four o’clock, riot police charged the demonstrators. We don’t know why, but there were some violent scenes.
Mr Matin, Singapore, says: I strongly support President Sarkozy’s demand for stricter financial regulations worldwide. The G20 meeting should control the hedge funds and eliminate if possible all sorts of short-selling in the stock market. Have your say
Fatima Nuzzi, Gran Canaria, says: The US and the UK are the main ones who caused this world economic problem and not only have they got away with it, but they are now turning it to their advantage. When a building falls down the architect is responsible and should pay for it. Have your say
Unslugged tweets: Coffee shop over the road must be getting a year’s worth of takings today. Some of their just-bought produce promptly hurled at police line.
Read Unslugged ‘s tweets.
1601 The BBC’s Dominic Hurst texts: Standoff in Queen Victoria Street. Approx 50 police in riot gear surrounded by protesters chanting “our streets”. Some pushing and missile throwing, but police holding the line.
1550 More than 1,000 economists, academics and other notables have signed a letter urging G20 leaders to promote free trade and reject protectionism, which it insists “creates poverty, not prosperity… Protectionism is a fool’s game”.
1546 The BBC’s Justin Webb says: Obama’s meeting with Medvedev was hugely important. The Russians said they understood US concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, which suggests a real change in Russia’s approach. Both sides are also starting talks on a new nuclear arms reduction deal.
1545 The BBC’s Daniel Boettcher says: Police outside the Bank of England are trying to disperse the protesters in an orderly fashion. They are opening junction after junction once they feel they are in control. 1540 The BBC’s Dominic Casciani says: If the demonstrators set out to stop the City then they have succeeded. We’ve been walking down street after street as if cars don’t exist. Police are hemming in protesters who they think might want a confrontation, but many others are drifting about looking for something to do.
So here we have a range of reports from different locations offering different perspectives. Some are commenting from the BBC’s own Have Your Say website, others from Twitter and others still via SMS. Then there are the journalists stitching together a narrative as events unfold as opposed to Sky who seem to prefer the close to the action approach. Having said that, their was a disappointing reliance on text (unlike the BBC News channel which used plenty of user generated video content).
It is interesting to see the two methods reveal the editorial policy of the two broadcasters. Sky, are happy to embrace Social Media but only as another means of communicating in the same way rather than the BBC who seem happy to use different communication platforms and include different voices, albeit vetted and approved before publishing.
Both approaches still have their roots in traditional news delivery. Sky used the embedded approach and BBC used the open discussion set within parameters defined by itself. What would perhaps have been interesting is if either broadcaster had incorporated the G20 Twitter hashtag (#g20) into their coverage and allowed an unmediated stream of reports and comments, Twitpics, Audioboos et al to flow before the reader’s eyes. Sky could quite easily have embedded a Twitterfall window into a web page and let their journalists fight it out to be heard amongst the deluge of media created by everyone else. Somehow, you feel that that approach is not in the editorial guidelines for either news channel. At present, it seems that broadcast news media is still feeling their way with Social Media as they try to find a structure for Web 2.0 news coverage.
Further reading:
G20: The social media battle
Twitter On The Front Line
Posted by Terry Duffelen 
Red and Dare 