Social Media in History: “Dewey Defeats Truman” 1948

What if Social Media was around for the Presidential election in 1948???

The news room at the Chicago Tribune:

November 2, 1948 ELECTION DAY

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Dude 1: “OMG twitter is saying that Dewey has won!   We can totally print this thing and go home!!”

Dude 2: “You get your news from TWITTER? What if it’s wrong?”

Dude 1: “Twitter wrong? Where have you been?  It knows everything.  You can even find out about earthquakes before they happen!”

Dude 2: “OMGosh you are so gullible.  At least check with someone smart… how about @Oprah, she’s knows everything, right?”

Dude 1: “Oh good idea”

goes to twitter.com

Dude 1 goes to his twitter list entitled “Eye Candy” and pulls up @Oprah

@Dude1: @Oprah, any truth to the Dewey win? #DeweyWins #TrumansANincompoop

……..@DeweyROCKS: RT@Dude1: @Oprah, any truth to the Dewey win? #DeweyWins #TrumansANincompoop

……..@DeweyMamma: RT@Dude1: @Oprah, any truth to the Dewey win? #DeweyWins #TrumansANincompoop

……..@TrumanLuvr: WTF?? RT@Dude1: @Oprah, any truth to the Dewey win? #stupidlies #TrumanFatherMyBaby

*

@KarlRove: my white board says it’s too close to call – and I win HANGMAN again! #SNORT

…….@Dude1: @KarlRove what the heck is a white board?

*

@Dude1: @Oprah you there babe?

oprah

@Oprah: @Dude1, um, I’m not born yet, ask @MarthaStewart #floozie #NotAsRichAsMe

*

Dude1 goes to twitter list entitled “So Into Me” and pulls up @MarthaStewart

@Dude1: @MarthaStewart any truth to the Dewey win?

martha-stewart

@MarthaStewart: @Dude1 since my mums are all facing east, I’d say good chance that’s true #SmarterThanOprah

@Dude1: @MarthaStewart OH FAB, check the Chicago Tribune tomorrow, I’ll def link you!

…….@CNN: @Dude1 seriously, print? thats so 1947…lets run the story on CNN!

…….@FoxNews: @Dude1 UM we are the fair and balanced one, run the story here!

…….@MSNBC: *snickers* we need the ratings, WE’VE ALREADY RUN THE STORY!#DeweyWins #trumpedCNNandFoxNews

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MSNBC in Hi….DEF???

“This is Chris Matthews with some breaking news, and I have to tell you I’m getting all tingly legged when I think about this, DEWEY WINS!!! Yes folks the election isn’t even over yet, but we at MSNBC are here to report that our sources are pretty darn sure DEWEY is the winner!  This is crazy!!!”

“Ok, everyone, it’s 8 o’clock and Keith Olbermann is running an Oddball Mashup during his show, I’VE GOTTA SEE THIS, good night all! ”

*

Back at the Tribune…

Dude2: OMG we have to print now!  We can’t let MSNBC win this one!

Dude1 and Dude2 “GO TO PRESS NOW!!”

And my friends the rest is History!

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disclosure: YES I certainly do recognize the historical innacuracies…sheesh…

Social Media Meets History – Columbus Discovers the New World

Wouldn’t it have been helpful if Columbus could have just used social media to announce his discovery of the New World?

“Wait, what is that I see? Could it be land?

Christopher Columbus sets his facebook status:

Taking a dip in the ocean, to go #1 (u know u do it too) and wondering what that is on the horizon…

6 people like this

“Let me grab my iPhone and twitpic this – maybe one of my followers can help identify!”

@chriscolumbus: Anyone have a clue? http://twitpic.com/zzxx

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@queenizzy RT @chriscolumbus: Anyone have a clue? http://twitpic.com/zzxx

@queenizzy: @chriscolumbus looks like that island @kingferd and I bought off the coast of Spain-GPS working OK?

@chriscolumbus: @queenizzy I downloaded the Crossing the Ocean App, but you know it can be wonky sometimes

@queenizzy: @chriscolumbus If it looks cool, raise a flag or something, @kingferd & I could use a vaca spot

And the rest my friends is history…