In the aftermath of the Iran elections, Twitter users are letting their fingers do the talking, expressing their dismay at CNN’s coverage using the hashtag #CNNfail.
According to Twitter users, CNN hasn’t done its due diligence in covering the civil unrest that followed the Iran elections, opting instead to cover far less politically charged topics on its website. A Twitter search for #CNNfail resulted in pages of results; according to News Junkie, it was the third most tweeted topic Saturday night.
I’ve taken screenshots of some of the #CNNfail tweets of the Iran election. And thanks to Twitter user marceloZ, I’ve included some incredible photos of the aftermath from Cryptome. You’ll find both in the gallery above.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Twitter Shaming
- An increasing trend of using social media to express dissatisfaction or criticism towards organizations and their actions.
- #cnnfail
- The hashtag #CNNfail specifically highlights instances where CNN's coverage is perceived as inadequate or biased by Twitter users.
- Civil Unrest Coverage
- The trend of demanding more comprehensive and politically charged news coverage from major media outlets during times of civil unrest.
Where This Applies
- Media and Broadcasting
- There is an opportunity for media and broadcasting companies to improve coverage strategies and address the concerns of the audience.
- Social Media
- Social media platforms can capitalize on the trend of Twitter shaming by providing better tools for users to express their dissatisfaction and hold organizations accountable.
- News Aggregators
- News aggregators could explore options to curate and highlight comprehensive and politically charged news content during significant events, gaining an audience looking for alternative news sources.
