Welcome to 3AW. Skip directly to: Search Box, Section Navigation, Content.

3AW - Fairfax Radio Network

Tuesday May 22, 2012

What we're talking about

Rudd, Gillard dominate Twitterverse

Posted by: Ben Wise | 24 June, 2010 - 1:23 AM

Image

As news of a Federal Government leadership change built on Wednedsay night, news directors around Australia probably started calling staff who had already long finished for the day to return to work.

While this may have been going on, what was definitely going on was micro-blogging site Twitter had an abundance of useful and useless information about the Labor Party’s potential leadership spill ready for mass consumption from a very thirsty online public.

It wasn’t long before a hashtag was set up for the worldwide leadership spill discussion – a hashtag or # used so people can follow the thread of the same topic.

In the case of the political bombshell developing in Canberra as Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, along with Labor Party heavyweights, met in Rudd’s office; the hashtag of choice appeared to be #spill.

Soon after Twitter users settled on #spill, millions of ‘no longer than 140 character’ comments, insights, questions, analysis and jokes flooded the world wide web.

They came from political journalists, politicians like Labor Senator for the ACT, Kate Lundy, who said she’d vote for Julia Gillard ‘because she will be an inspiring PM’ and others like crisdeal who posted: “BREAKING: BP public relations pleased that there is a major spill happening they are not responsible for. #spill.”

Our own Neil Mitchell (@3AWNeilMitchell) was at home armed with an iPhone, and long before the story really gained momentum, the Morning Program host Tweeted, simply: “Something big is happening.”

Moving on, as the country waited for the results of the meeting to be revealed to political pundits in Canberra, the conduits for many to get the news, the #spill comments ranged from ridiculous to insightful.
 
“Kinda surprised that Wilson Tuckey and Barnaby Joyce haven't chased down a microphone and said something bats--t crazy #spill,” Tweeted NewtonMark before Rudd emerged to face the media.

During the Prime Minister’s press conference, the official 3AW Radio Twitter site- http://twitter.com/3aw693 - tried to commentate what was happening as Rudd rocked from foot to foot and spoke as emotively and honestly as perhaps he ever has in public?

To highlight just how much activity the #spill discussion was creating on Twitter, the words ‘Kevin Rudd’ and ‘Julia Gillard’ were the No.1 and No.2 ranked trending topics in the entire world at one stage - no mean feat given England was about to start its World Cup clash with Slovenia and there seems to be 5 billion people in the world who like typing ‘Bieber’ at any given moment.

After Rudd spilled his beans on live radio and TV, it was time for even more analysis, commentary and obviously a prime time for pranksters to step up.

Within minutes, a user of Twitter bobbed up called KevinRuddExPM and of his first few Tweets these were probably the ones which received the most attention (adjudged by how many times they were ‘reTweeted’).

“I'm taking a Vuvuzela to Caucus tomorrow.”

“I'd call Obama right now for advice but he's s---house at handling #spills”

“Calling Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell to ask them for some advice on handling a send off...”

“I could still be Premier of China with my mandarin skills and love for censored internet, right? Right?”

What comes next? Well, there is no ‘next’ on Twitter. You could be offline for two minutes and the world will have moved through so many conversations in that time your head will be spinning by the time you look at the site again.

One thing’s for certain, two new Twitter accounts may be fighting for bragging rights after 9am tomorrow – PMJuliaGillard and FirstFemalePM.

See you in the Twitterverse…

- Ben Wise Tweets for the offical 3AW Radio site @3AW693

 

Melbourne's Own 3AW on Twitter

Twitter Constantly on the go? Want to know what's happening in your world? Let 3AW keep you up to speed with the aid of social facilitator Twitter. Follow 3AW Now on Twitter at the following address http://twitter.com/3AW693

Blog comments Your Say

  • This type of takeover is a political COUP. It would be illegal any other way. I will NOT support a prime minister that maliciously obtained power with out voters' consent. Good to see the mining industry will get bigger profits and we will still have to cop the higher prices. NOT good Gillard.

    Roman Thursday 24 June, 2010 - 8:31 PM

  • What's fascinating is that we heard about this news first on facebook and then on twitter - social media at work. But, the question is, does Julia Gillard know how to use social media - property?

    Peter & Nic Thursday 24 June, 2010 - 11:26 AM

  • What a load of rubbish the people don't vote for the PM he or she is appointed by Party.

    Eric Thursday 24 June, 2010 - 9:37 AM

  • Love Kevin talking about how he's made inroads into welfare reform - yeah, the pensioners and people with disabilities REALLY love the idea of having quarantined welfare payments and food vouchers. Some bad decisions made recently.

    Sam Thursday 24 June, 2010 - 8:47 AM

  • What a disaster she will only become PM because of this challenge Not because she has been voted in by the people of Australia. How stupid are Australians

    Ian Thursday 24 June, 2010 - 8:04 AM

  • yet still no comment not a word about the on mental health crisis. IB

    IanB Thursday 24 June, 2010 - 6:32 AM

Post a comment * Mandatory fields