Following the inauguration via Twitter
The Virginian-Pilot today became the latest media outlet to announce plans to cover next week’s inauguration via Twitter:
Breaking news reporter Patrick Wilson, who is attending the inauguration, will use his cell phone to send his quick observations…
If you are a member of Twitter, you can subscribe to get his updates. If you are attending an inauguration event, too, and are a member of Twitter, you can send a tweet to @PilotOnPolitics, and The Pilot will also follow you.
In addition, the Pilot’s web page will show these Twitter updates, the Pilot reports today.
The 1921 inauguration of Warren G. Harding.
Reportedly, no one Tweeted the ceremonies.
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We may have to follow this feed next Tuesday — if, for no other reason, just to see how successful it is. The enormous crowds expected in the District of Columbia next week — a million plus is the current estimate, down two-thirds from much more dire early predictions — are expected to bring the cell phone system there to a complete standstill.
CNN’s Eric Marrapodi reported last month:
All those phone calls, texts, pictures and video messages will hit a logjam.
“It’ll be like everyone leaving the beach at the same time after the Fourth of July,” said Joe Farren [a spokesman for CTIA -- The Wireless Association, a nonprofit organization that represents wireless carriers]. “All roads will come to a standstill.”
Similar cellular gridlock situations have occurred at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. There were some reports of texts not going through for hours last year as mobile systems played catch-up with the data.
Verizon and Sprint are spending big bucks to augment their systems in the D.C. area.
Marrapodi reports:
A major security concern for the event is the crush of first responders, dignitaries and police who depend on their mobile phones. First responders will have a priority access code enabling them to get their calls through. But the average citizen may have to wait longer to send that picture of himself on the National Mall to his buddies back home.
Sprint says there is no need to panic — calls and messages will still go through, eventually. A spokesman recommended that revelers text rather than call, because texts use less data and will get through quicker. Another alternative is to use pay phones or other land lines.
Yeah, right. What few phone booths remain are likely to be occupied by super-heroes changing clothes.
A cursory Google search finds a number of other media outlets planning to tweet the inauguration: from the Fergus Falls (Minn.) Daily to Canada’s National Post.
Find the Pilot’s Twitter feed here. Find the Pilot’s political blog here.