Speed Saves

Posted on September 28, 2010 Written by

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A gunman fired several rounds in a University of Texas library today. (I don’t think I have to recount the very sensitive issue with you… the rest of the media is sure to dredge up the story of the sniper in the tower.)

The interesting piece for me today is how technology changed both the event and the reporting of it.

Alert!

UT Alert: armed subject reported last seen at PERRY CASTENEDA LIBRARY SHELTER IN PLACE STAY WHERE YOU ARE AT MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOWTue Sep 28 13:48:06 via Twitter for iPhoneMike Bicknell
mikebicknell

Armed subject reported: last seen at Perry Castaneda Library (PCL). More info to follow; check http://www.utexas.edu/emergency/Tue Sep 28 13:44:24 via ChoqokKumar Appaiah
kumanna

UT Alert: (armed subject reported last seen at (PERRY CASTANEDA LIBRARY on 09282010 details to follow.Tue Sep 28 13:21:48 via Twitter for BlackBerry®Nannette Lopez
HolaNani

Not only did the alert system work as advertised (including sirens for those without cell phones), but it saturated Twitter and Facebook:

A shooter is being reported on the campus of the U of Texas. Witnesses reporting at least 10 shots fired.Tue Sep 28 13:40:58 via Tweetie for MacNick Miller
nickmil

REAKING NEWS: Shots fired at University of Texas campus. Keep an eye on it here: http://www.statesman.com/?cxntcid=breaking_newsTue Sep 28 13:39:29 via webJoe Gross
joegross


News!

It also spread quickly from mainstream news outlets.

Breaking News: Shots fired at University of Texas campus: Details to come.Tue Sep 28 13:38:39 via Seesmic twhirlmySA
mySA

BREAKING NEWS: Shots fired at University of Texas campus. Keep an eye on it here: http://www.statesman.com/?cxntcid=breaking_newsTue Sep 28 13:35:34 via Tweetie for MacAngela Buraglia
aburaglia

No doubt, the news gathering and ability to find eyewitnesses was greatly enhanced by simply firing up a browser.

Just in: We are getting reports of an “active shooter” on the UT campus. More to come.Tue Sep 28 13:30:57 via TweetDeckAustin Statesman
statesman

Have you witnessed this event at UT? Please @ reply me with any photos and/or call editor David Doolittle at 445-3671.Tue Sep 28 13:37:45 via TweetDeckAustin Statesman
statesman

Even a little engagement:

“Active Shooter”? As in “Spree”? RT @statesman: Just in: We are getting reports of an “active shooter” on the UT campus. More to come.Tue Sep 28 13:32:35 via TweetDeckAaron Brazell
technosailor

@technosailor Just means police believe shots have been fired.Tue Sep 28 13:34:51 via TweetDeckAustin Statesman
statesman

What a great way to quickly maintain calm and order, when clear heads should prevail!

Speed Kills, and Speed Saves

Sure, the digital and mobile revolution has threatened to disrupt the way we get our news, and erode the trust we have in “non-verified sources.”

But it can also save lives, and spread the kind of information people need at the time they need it most.

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  1. Ike Pigott says:
    September 28, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    Mobile technology and alerts have changed potentially deadly events | http://ike4.me/o143

  2. Ike Pigott says:
    September 28, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    @technosailor – You made a guest appearance in this post: http://ike4.me/o143

  3. Ike Pigott says:
    September 28, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    Was the UT shooting changed for the better by social media and mobile technology? | http://ike4.me/o143

  4. n2teaching says:
    September 28, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    RT @ikepigott: Mobile technology and alerts have changed potentially deadly events | http://ike4.me/o143

  5. Aaron Brazell says:
    September 28, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    @SweetJohn Also, see @ikepiggot's post on this. I'd say the entire city worked in unison during the #UTshooter incident http://is.gd/fxRdi

  6. Vito Longo says:
    September 28, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    RT @ikepigott: Was the UT shooting changed for the better by social media and mobile technology? | http://ike4.me/o143

  7. Mike Ellis from ECN says:
    September 28, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    #UTshooting How technology changed both the event and the reporting of it. http://ow.ly/2Lgcp via @ikepigott

  8. Fire Tracker says:
    September 28, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    RT @VOLOforDRBC: #UTshooting How technology changed both the event and the reporting of it. http://ow.ly/2Lgcp via @ikepigott

  9. Chris Hopper says:
    September 28, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    RT @TheFireTracker2: RT @VOLOforDRBC: #UTshooting How technology changed both the event and the reporting of it. http://ow.ly/2Lgcp via @ikepigott

  10. Wendy Harman says:
    September 28, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    I was in a surprise 4.5 hour meeting today so missed this, but @ikepigott offers a nice roundup: http://bit.ly/dzxzix

  11. Ike Pigott says:
    September 28, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    Communication and information-seeking in a crisis has definitely changed | http://ike4.me/o143

  12. MASCL says:
    September 28, 2010 at 8:27 pm

    RT @ikepigott: Communication and information-seeking in a crisis has definitely changed | http://ike4.me/o143

  13. Shelly Wilcoxson says:
    September 28, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    RT @EmergCommNetwrk: #UTshooting How technology changed both the event and the reporting of it. http://ow.ly/2Lgcp via @ikepigott\

  14. Richie Escovedo says:
    September 28, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    RT @ikepigott: Communication and information-seeking in a crisis has definitely changed | http://ike4.me/o143

  15. Kathy Drewien says:
    September 29, 2010 at 12:22 am

    Speed Saves http://ff.im/-rgJEm

  16. Brent Kawakami says:
    September 29, 2010 at 4:16 am

    RT @Uncle_Vito @ikepigott: Was the UT shooting changed for the better by social media and mobile technology? http://ike4.me/o143

  17. Michael Sommermeyer says:
    October 8, 2010 at 6:00 am

    RT @ikepigott: Communication and information-seeking in a crisis has definitely changed | http://ike4.me/o143