Naturally, I’m a big fan of combining journalism and social media. Social media is transforming journalism, especially since more people are getting their news from Twitter and Facebook than from many other “traditional” news sources. Twitter is a great tool for real time coverage of breaking news and monitoring digital conversations. Or in the case of Trayvon Martin, launching a little known local story out of obscurity and into the headlines of national news.

 But outside of using hashtags for audience engagement or curating social media content for multimedia stories, I’ve been yearning to see a creative social media project from a news source.

After seeing NBC LA’s project,  LA Riots: 20 Years Later, I’m saying “Finally!”

The NBC station in Los Angeles is asking ”What if Twitter existed in 1992?” and “live tweeting the past” with @RealTimeLARiots, a twitter account created to simulate real-time tweets about activity before, during, and after the LA Riots.  

Here’s the wow factor: each tweet corresponds to the actual date, time and sometimes minute of the events that unfolded back in 1992.

Launched on April 20 @RealTimeLARiots is currently covering the final days in the trial of Stacey Koon, Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, and Theodore Briseno, the four officers accused of beating Black motorist Rodney King.

 

Court Update: 4 LAPD officers opt for all-or-nothing verdict.#RodneyKing #Trial

— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 20, 2012

The account chronicles the events in the courtroom, including tweeting jury deliberation times and actual quotes.  

 

Defendant #LaurencePowell‘s attorney says officers were doing their duty.

— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 21, 2012

 

#MichaelStone: “Everything every one of these officers did out there that night was done in good faith and for a good reason.”

— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 21, 2012

 

#BREAKING: Jury begins deliberations in #RodneyKing beating trial.

— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 23, 2012

The tweets even cover activity outside of the courthouse.

 

#Heckler to # TimothyWind outside courthouse: “I hope you get 20 years.”

— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 28, 2012

 

Outside courthouse #LaurencePowell: “My days as a police officer are over” whatever the verdict.

— Real Time LA Riots (@RealTimeLARiots) April 28, 2012

On April 29 at 3:15 pm, corresponding to the date and time in 1992,  @RealTimeLAriots will tweet the verdict of the trial, which acquitted 3 of the officers, triggering the first events of the riots.

After that tweet, the account will shift its focus to covering the escalating chaos of the riots by tweeting archive footage and photos, as well as breaking news of events as they unfolded.

I’m really excited to watch this fascinating project develop over the weekend and continue throughout the coming weeks. Judging by the responses to the project, I’m sure @RealTimeLARiots will lead the Twittersphere in making the Los Angeles Riots a trending topic over the next week.

-The Vibrant VJ

Will you be following the twitter buzz about the LA riots? Let me know @ShaunaReporter!