What the Tweet

Staff / Truthdig Aug 22, 2009 Twitter, the superstar microblogging service that media outlets like CNN are flocking to as they struggle for Web credibility, has hit a roadblock in its steady march to global popularity. A company attempt to trademark the word tweet, describing an individual blog post, has been rejected by the U.S. patent office. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Squeezed-Out Blogger Blames the Kremlin

Staff / Truthdig Aug 7, 2009 A significant Internet "denial of service" attack Thursday directed at popular Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter may have been carried out or instigated by the Russian government in an attempt to silence a dissident blogger in Georgia. At least so says the blogger. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ahmadinejad Sworn In

Staff / Truthdig Aug 5, 2009 Amid street battles, the deaths of 30 protesters and weeks-long accusations of electoral corruption, everyone's favorite Twitter-bobo doll, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has taken the oath of office for Iran's presidency once again. Several countries, the U.S. being one of them, have said they will not send a letter of congratulations. So there. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Palin Promises to Loosen Her Tongue

Staff / Truthdig Jul 18, 2009 The Alaska governor tells her Twitter followers "elected is replaceable;Ak WILL progress! + side benefit=10 dys til less politically correct twitters fly frm my fingertps outside State site." Palin indicates in a more recent message that later this month she will launch a personal Twitter account for nonstate business and, presumably, more quotes on the nature of quitting. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Twitter Effect’ Hits Hollywood

Staff / Truthdig Jul 11, 2009 The time frame for projecting the success or failure of a newly released film has already been compressed to the point of asphyxiation, thanks to the Internet, but with the popularity of social networking services like Twitter, the window of box office opportunity has become even shorter, according to The Wrap's Sharon Waxman. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sarah Palin Gets Philosophical

Staff / Truthdig Jul 9, 2009 We've been following Sarah Palin on Twitter and so far we've been rewarded with a lot of boring dispatches about the Iditarod, the "Labor Commish" and those dreamy smoke jumpers. But the fickle Alaska governor dropped a couple of quotes on us Wednesday that make it pretty clear she sees herself as a conscientious iconoclast willing to "sacrifice to win." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Getting Off the Grid

David Sirota / Truthdig Jun 26, 2009 Today's technology revolutions have been rightfully celebrated for improving everything from education to medicine to commerce, but we don't often consider the psychological and societal consequences of always being connected and available. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Journalism in the Twitter Era

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Jun 25, 2009 Journalism is famously described as "the first rough draft of history." But the history of this Iranian moment is a first, rough hailstorm of bits and bytes, tweets and texts. In the tweet of Mousavil388: "One Person=One Broadcaster." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

More Than the Sum of 140 Characters

Mike Luckovich / Truthdig Jun 19, 2009 Dig deeper

Twitter and Iran

John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune Jun 18, 2009 Dig deeper

Meddle, No; Twitter, Yes

Staff / Truthdig Jun 17, 2009 Twitter, the popular microblogging network, has played a significant role in connecting people interested in the popular protests happening in Iran. The service has been so important that the State Department asked Twitter to stay online -- and delay its scheduled maintenance -- so as to keep Iranian dissent open to the rest of the world. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iran’s Protest Goes Viral

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2009 Iranian officials have cut off key communication conduits within the country and barred access to foreign news broadcasts as election protests rage on. But protesters have found ways to get information by other means: They have turned to social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )