News

The Fifteen Seconds of Fame

2. May 2011, 00:00

The targeted killing of Osama Bin Laden was meant to be more than a long-awaited military victory for the Obama administration. Its announcement – by the President himself – was designed to be the biggest PR scoop of the decade. A couple of over-zealous civil servants spoilt the show, though.

Schneller als die klassischen Medien: The Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com)

Hier nahm das Unheil seinen Anfang: Keith Urbahn auf Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Und dann kam der Präsident: Barack Obama im Fernsehen (Youtube.com)

Barack Obama did not want to pass on personally announcing the big news to his people: on Sunday, in a helicopter raid, a special unit of the Navy Seals had killed the Al Kaida leader. The perfect surprise – in theory, that is.

In reality, though, there will always be some civil servant who cannot resist spreading the news before the President’s announcement despite the imposed strictest confidentiality. Be it to garner the favour of some journalist or for a few seconds of personal fame.

Initially, there were but a few tweets and texts to journalist. But very soon, all hell broke loose. One speculation followed on the heel of another one on Twitter, Facebook as well as online and broadcasting media. Obama was still penning his televised address as the Huffington Post proclaimed: DEAD!

Around the world, media are reporting on the information mishap of what was meant to be the major PR scoop and a few civil servants who once again couldn’t keep their mouths shut:

Turning to Social Networks for News: New York Times

Keith Urbahn schlägt sie alle: Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Text in German)

Osama Bin Laden's Death Leaked Via Twitter: Huffingtonpost.com

How the Bin Laden Announcement Leaked Out: New York Times

Bin Laden is dead: US-Präsident Barack Obama

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