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Note To Keith Olbermann on Twitter Report: You Don’t Need To Say ‘At’

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by Tommy Christopher | 10:45 am, April 27th, 2010

» 12 comments

Countdown host Keith Olbermann is a recent, welcome addition to the Twitter community, and his “Twitter Report” is a welcome addition to the show. As such, this is not, in any way, meant to dissuade him from doing the segment, but rather to fine-tune it. Mr. Olbermann? When you’re reading people’s Twitter names, you don’t actually have to say “at.” <

Here’s another hint that may come in handy. When speaking a hashtag aloud, you also don’t have to say the word “hashtag.” You just say the hashtagged phrase in a lower, quicker voice like Goldmember, or Kevin Nealon‘s Mr. Subliminal.

Keith is, of course, not alone in the struggle to translate Twitterese into real-life speech. I find lots of my IRL friends peppering their phone conversations with references to “Ed Henry-See-En-En” or “unfollowing” their girlfriends. OK, I made that last one up.<

Other than that, the segment is a great way for Olbermann to interact with, and perhaps cross-pollinate, his TV and Twitter audiences. Like Chuck Todd before him, Keith has become an effective ambassador for Twitter, quickly leveraging it to enhance the experience of both sets of followers.

I would encourage him to do more interaction with non-fans on Twitter, and highlight those interactions on the show. The audience that loves to hate him is probably a vast untapped resource, and a great way to glue some more eyeballs to the show. But something tells me that you have your own ideas on how best to proceed.

Countdown, Ed Henry, keith olbermann, Kevin Nealon, Mr. Subliminal, Tommy Christopher, twitter, Twitter Report

Johnny M

I dont watch much CNN other than the occassional AC360, but havent they be utilizing Twitter as a tool on their shows for awhile now? It doesnt seem this is a fresh idea.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

Tommy – According to the timestamp, it’s been 11 hours since he last dissed Mediaite on Twitter.
Are we to assume that it was your day to draw the short straw?
SteveMG

It is fascinating that all of these bomb-throwers – Olbermann and Limbaugh and Hannity and Beck – are the most thin-skinned bunch of people imaginable (sorry Keith; I know you think you don’t belong in that group, but you do).

They can go after everybody else hammer-and-tongs, but if they’re criticized at all, they’re just unbelievably sensitive.
writer

Since Olbermann talks ‘at’ people instead of ‘to’ them, perhaps the terminology is correct.
Tater Salad

Keith Olbermann………completely pathetic. Got to go now, Fox News is coming on!
Tommy Christopher

Johnny,

from what I have seen, most news programs’ attempts to integrate Twitter have been pretty clumsy, although Rick Sanchez is a notable exception. Olbermann has gone from 0 to 60, and is doing it right.
The Real Royal King

SteveMG says:
April 27, 2010 at 12:36 pm

It is fascinating that all of these bomb-throwers – Olbermann and Limbaugh and Hannity and Beck – are the most thin-skinned bunch of people imaginable ….

—

A remarkably true observation.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Poor RRK, the only thing remarkably true about that statement is that you remarkabley believe it.
writer

Since Hannity has people on his show who disagree with him, Olbermann must be a little more thin skinned. All his guests come from Huff Post and Daily Kos.
The Real Royal King

Tommy Christopher says:
April 27, 2010 at 12:51 pm

Johnny,

from what I have seen, most news programs’ attempts to integrate Twitter have been pretty clumsy, although Rick Sanchez is a notable exception. Olbermann has gone from 0 to 60, and is doing it right.

—

I agree with your observation.

I find Twittering frustrating and obnoxious.

To what do you attribute Sanchez’s ability to make it work?
Tommy Christopher

I think with Sanchez, it’s just an extension of his personality, he’s kind of a natural.
lonestar77

writer says:
April 27, 2010 at 12:36 pm

Since Olbermann talks ‘at’ people instead of ‘to’ them, perhaps the terminology is correct.

That’s the smartest observation I’ve read in weeks.