*(Photos by .faramarz on Flickr, in my opinion best photo stream on the Internet, alongside Mousavi1388)
andrewmueller @SashaHalima @anncurry #IranElection hashtag should be changed to #IranSlaughter
It’s no secret that for the past week the 2009 Iranian elections have been trickling through in mass numbers across the Internet, television and print.
From live blogging via the Huffington Post, to Facebook starting a Farsi version, to Twitter rescheduling its maintenance to Google, who, not only, is offering Farsi as a new translated service, but has also mapped out the embassies in Iran via Google Maps, there seems to be no real lack of information; even from CNN.
View Embassies Accepting Injured People in Tehran in a larger map
The American cable news network, who was once accused of failing to cover the election controversy when the streets of Tehran initially went up in flames, has been PRoactively on their guard recently -- even stepping up their game to a whole new level.
Case and point = iReport + Twitter
iReport is a “user-generated” site. This means that the videos and stories submitted by the users of iReport have not been ”edited, fact-checked or screened” before they have been posted.
While, this opens a Pandora’s Box of be careful who your sources are, it also enable users, like those in Iran, to upload video of the streets, chaos and demonstrations like none before.
Recently, CNN has been utilizing their partnership with iReport to a whole new level – after Internet users across the board accused them of one giant #CNNFail.
So is CNN now a #CNNWin? Well, I’m not too sure to be quite honest. But I definitely think they are taking a PRoactive approach to fixing the err of their ways.
Stories that have been marked as “CNN” on iReport have been vetted for use by the cable news channel.
Not only that, but CNN has utilized the tool that was ready to burn them at the stake, Twitter:
cnnbrkVideo shows Tehran protester apparently shot, man runs through crowd with blood on hands, chant of ‘Death to the dictator’ #iranelection
stevebruskCNNPresident Obama calls on Iran to stop all violent and unjust action against its own people, warns Iran world is watching
politicalticker“Obama urges Iran to stop violence against its own people” -- http://tinyurl.com/n6tnx9
On a final note, YouTube has been the one of the true pioneers in the movement to get messages out. They are a true example of the speed of social media.
Video of protests:
faramarzhashemiBe alert of basij waiting outside of embassies. approach with caution! #iranelection
Watch at your own descretion if you are 1) OLD ENOUGH and 2) think you can take it — GRAPHIC CONTENT. —-> Mashable has posted the top ten Iran Election Crisis videos on their website. Video number nine contains graphic, unedited content of a young girl who was shot by the Basji and lay dying on the streets of Tehran.
LaraABCNews Time Magazine piece on “Neda,” penned by Robin Wright http://bit.ly/NhOLs #Iranelection
Ben Parr from Mashable said it best:
Nevermind the crisis in Iran – this is one of the most brutal videos I have ever seen in my life. That is why I have provided multiple warnings about this one, but I feel that it is important to include it for several reasons:
- Social media is raw, and that YouTube allows you to get the uncensored version of things. We cannot be blind to that fact.
- This is, in my mind, the most incredible of all the videos coming out of Iran.
- Sometimes, you have to see everything to really understand what’s going on. Things are very, very bad in Iran, period.
With all of that said, this video is just gut-wrenching.
UPDATE: June 22, 2009 6:16 p.m. ET
Image of Neda Soltani released
Little Pink Book’s Rule of PR #11:
Be PRoactive, not reactive.
The respect you lost will be regained,
Your credibility will be returned,
but always keep in mind the lesson you learned:
It can all be taken away from you in a second
at anytime, anywhere on anyday.
x.
For more information:
Who is Who in the #IranElection Controversy
The Twitter Effect: Watching #IranElection
How Twitter Shamed CNN with #IranElection and #CNNFail
Google to launch Farsi-English translator
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Sasha Muradali runs the ‘Little Pink Book’ . She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida (’07) and an M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami(’08). She loves Twitter and all things social media, so you should find her @SashaHalima.
Copyright © 2009 Sasha H. Muradali. All Rights Reserved.
