Last Tuesday, multimedia OPUBCO editor Mike Koehler visited OSU on a mission to help JB 4520 learn the increasingly viability of social media. He highlighted what an important role that online video and Twitter played during Oklahoma’s recent ice storms and tornadoes.
During the ice storms, his media team utilized videos and Twitter to inform people of the changing (and possibly dangerous) weather conditions. A team drove around Oklahoma City with a video to continuously show the road conditions, which was also open to chat and Twitter. They started the Twitter feed #okice, which was OPUBCO’s first attempt to use Twitter for weather information.
Mike said his team was a bit surprised at how quickly and easily citizens got involved in the communication process. People contributed information regarding school closings, road conditions and severe weather sightings. However, he also said that the most common comments were safety concerns of the team on the road. People really wanted to help others in the most efficient way available.
What does this mean? We can utilize social media not only to update the public on current events, but also on crises and problems for which people need immediate information. Twitter is not just a “how ya doin’” or news article feed, it’s also a way to connect people with rapidly changing information and help connect them with each other. How cool is that?
Social media serves as more than just day-to-day updates or references to more information – it also can be used for of-the-moment, vital information. Our class observed that when we waited out the tornado weather together. Twitter and other social media kept us informed.
It’s nice to know that social media isn’t entirely “social,” it may become a vital information source.
