Train conversation further cements Twitter as a social media/mass media, real-time, citizen-journalism news outlet.
Amtrak passenger Tom Matzzie live-tweeted an on-background interview between news media and former NSA director Michael Hayden (also ex-CIA director) from a commuter train known as the ACELA. It was fascinating to watch this play out, minute by minute on Matzzie’s Twitter feed, and later by traditional media. As this was happening, Hayden was alerted by his team, approached Matzzie offering to chat, and even posed for a photo.
The entire episode is now secured for the ages in the form of tweets and the ensuing news coverage.
Former NSA spy boss Michael Hayden on Acela behind me blabbing "on background as a former senior admin official" Sounds defensive.
— Tom Matzzie (@tommatzzie) October 24, 2013
On Acela listening to former NSA spy boss Michael Hayden give "off record" interviews. I feel like I'm in the NSA. Except I'm in public.
— Tom Matzzie (@tommatzzie) October 24, 2013
This man says he just eavesdropped on former NSA director and he’s tweeting about it: http://t.co/1Gs0LBOYto pic.twitter.com/XTOSg90GA1
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 24, 2013
So apparently I was on maddow
— Tom Matzzie (@tommatzzie) October 25, 2013
@maddow segment on my train trip. http://t.co/oP3LTQOAO8
— Tom Matzzie (@tommatzzie) October 25, 2013
“I’m not a reporter,” Matzzie replied. “Everybody’s a reporter,” said Hayden. http://t.co/1VTv3Y90Vo
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 25, 2013
The Rest of The Story: Cocktails?
Here’s more from Matzzie, himself, by phone, via Soundcloud, speculating as to why the former official may have been so candid:
It’s particularly mind-blowing that the former head of an organization whose focus is security would be so loud on a train, but hey, Hayden is, in fact, now a public speaker — even if, in this case, inadvertently.
What do you think? Have you ever followed a live tweeting of news in real-time? Have you ever been a citizen journalist, or cited by the media for your social media activities? Let us hear from you in the comments.
Related articles
- A guy on Amtrak spied on the former NSA director (dailydot.com)
- Tom Matzzie on Why He Live-Tweeted a Former CIA Director’s Private Conversation, and Whether That Made Him Nervous (New York Magazine)
- Former Head Of NSA Michael Hayden Overheard On Train, Twitter World ‘Listened’ (Caffeinated Politics)
- The Acela Spy – The shocking things I’ve learned by eavesdropping on Amtrak (Slate.com)
- Twitter = Citizen Journalism (chelsmeyer73.wordpress.com)
- Citizen Journalism Vs. Traditional journalism (abigailnaadjanie.wordpress.com)
- Ambient Awareness & Citizen Journalism (ginafaustini.wordpress.com)
- Former NSA Director Advocates Chinese-Style Internet (Conservatives Against Tyranny)
- Citizen-journalism (brittanymarie19.wordpress.com)
- Michael Hayden, the Voice of Terror (Gawker)
