Wednesday, May 11, 2011

WSOC TV's Epic Fail Using Twitter

The folks at WSOC, including reporter Natalie Pasquarella and producer Shelley Lynch are offended that I've called them out on their over use of twitter to run news teases leading up to their nightly news broadcasts.


Natalie Pasquarella

They are not the only television station that does this, but they do it so often that it reaches the level of being nothing more than SPAM.

To quote one rising television anchor at a competing station "I think "Tweasers" are stupid for hard, breaking news. Unless it's a fluffy or you seriously have something exclusive, leave off twitter".

Cedar Posts couldn't agree more.

Another anchor pointed out the it's May and ratings are the goal. I suspect he's right but have they thought it through?

Let's do the numbers; NatalieNews aka Natalie Pasquarella has slightly more than 2000 followers, Blair Miller has about 1/2 that many, Shelley Lynch 301 and Eric Bryant has about 70. Assume that those who follow Parquarella also follow Lynch, Bryant and Miller as I do, so at most WSOC has about 2000 followers. The majority are fellow news people or bloggers like myself. Half of those who follow Pasquarella are stalkers, she just hasn't figured this out yet. So in the real world WSOC has just under 500 real and unique followers who might if given the chance grab the remote and flip the channels til they pull up on WSOC.

I said might but its highly doubtful.

But given the effort to produce a tweet a minute it's not cost effective to use Twitter in this manner. Honestly who has a twitter account, and sits in front of their tv for 30 minutes at 11 o'clock? Anyone? Hello? As I suspected crickets, or lately cicadas.

No one is reading WSOC's tweets. They generate no revenue and its annoying that they keep saying the same garbarge over and over again.

Since I've been calling WSOC out for spamming the twitterverse, I've been unfollowed by Natalie Pasquarella and Sherry Lynch, but they have learned to "delete" their repetitive tweets.

At one point tonight WSOC was popping up on my blackberry about once every 3 minutes with nothing more than a plea to watch their story on Rev Billy Graham being hospitalized.

Below is a sample of the "NEWS" they tweeted over 40 minutes.

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
Mel Graham says his uncle, Rev. Billy Graham, is in "great spirits" & improving. He said Billy thanks everyone in #Charlotte 4 their prayers
40 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
Want to hear latest on Rev. Graham? Tune in at 11 on Channel 9 with @BlairMiller9 - He'll have a live interview w/Graham family on @WSOC_TV
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
by shelleyclynch
We'll do live interview with Graham family to get an update at 10 on #waxn with @natalienews & then w/ me & @ericabryant9 at 11 on #wsoc
6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
RT @EricaBryant9: Coming up in 30 mins, a LIVE interview w/Rev Billy Graham's nephew on Eyewitness News as the evangelist battles pneumonia
8 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
I spoke to Mel Graham, Rev Graham's nephew...He says the reverend is improving, watching TV & they expect him to be in hospital 2 to 3 days
11 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

EricaBryant9 Erica Bryant
Coming up in 30 minutes,a LIVE interview with Reverend Billy Graham's nephew on Eyewitness News at 11 as the evangelist battles pneumonia.
18 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

TenikkaWSOC9 Tenikka Smith
Meanwhile, hundreds have posted well wishes on Rev. Billy Graham's facebook page.
18 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
Family expects Graham to be in the hospital for two to three days
20 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

TenikkaWSOC9 Tenikka Smith
Rev. Graham's nephew Mel told us minutes ago - he's responding well to antibiotics. He was appreciative of support and asked for prayers.
21 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
Nephew of Rev Graham says Billy is "improving" in the hospital tonight... watching TV and visiting with family. Tonight at 10 & 11
22 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
Mel Graham just spoke with Billy Graham in the hospital.. he'll share how he's doing.. on the 10 o'clock news on TV 64 #waxn
26 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

TenikkaWSOC9 Tenikka Smith
The latest on Rev. Billy Graham who is being treated at Asheville, NC hospital - plus how the public is showing support. Tonight at 10 & 11
40 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply »

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
We'll do live interview with Graham family to get an update at 10 on #waxn with @natalienews & then w/ me & @ericabryant9 at 11 on #wsoc
41 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
just spoke w/ Mel Graham (nephew Rev Graham) says hosp aggressively treating for pneumonia & they "don't considered it life threatening"
44 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

A little too much, over kill? Don't agree?

Let me know I'm ready to roll on this one.

Cedar's Take: There are too many good news people out there who provide news and information in an extremely timely manner. WSOC is an embarrassment to those who work in the business and take their jobs to a much higher standard.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

WSOC is the worst station for teasers. Empty news with no talent. I guess its been years since Bill Walker anchored the six PM news but it's been down hill since then.

Anonymous said...

I have had a Twitter account for several years. Ignored Twitter until about a month ago. Suddenly "found" Twitter on the computer, am not in the same part of the nation as you, but only 'follow' people who seem to have national presence: some reporters from NY papers, some stock market bloggers, other big names or major organizations who have something to say and usually link to something useful or interesting. Cannot imagine 'following' a local news person.

Usually I find that I am in-the-cross-hairs average. Would be interesting to see what most other folks do with Twitter.

My biggest flash was realizing that the reason the Twitter I read seems so familiar is that it is CB Radio all over again! Just a lot longer potential reach and more potential for sophistication.

Wonder if Twitter will have a 'lifespan' similar to CB Radio??

Anonymous said...

Do they think anyone even reads their tweets?

Look at the demographics WSOC is strong with the over 30 NASCAR crowd.

Maybe they could increase viewer if the had someone besides Erica Bryant and that sad case for breast enlargement Natalie Pascurella

Anonymous said...

Hey Man, don't be talking about Natalie's tits like that!

Anonymous said...

What happened to the comment about NatPass's boobies or lack there of?

Cedar no way your are going p/c of us dude are you?