A presentation on journalism and the formation of online communities via Twitter.

1. Twitter: Journalism and the
formation of online communities
A case study by A Brun and J Burgess on the
2010 Australian Federal Election and the use
of Twitter.

2. Introduction
• Twitter has become a standard element of
general Internet usage in Australia.
• It’s involvement in the 2010 Australian Federal
Election became a space for the general
Internet users in Australia to provide
commentary on political events and the
media.

3. What was Twitter used for? #ausvotes
• People provided commentary on political events, the
media and largely focused on the personalities of the
race rather than policy.
• Communicate and engage with political
parties, politicians, politics, journalist and other like-
minded Australians.
• A space to share feelings and opinions.
• Creation of a community based around a mutual
interest, where people with the same intentions have
come to share their opinions on the Australian
Election, as well as seeking information.

4. A professional space? #ausvotes
• An increase of journalists signed up to Twitter
such as @LaurieOaks, @michellegrattan and @
lenoretaylor
• Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott both opened Twitter
accounts for this election (both are still active
today).
– A tweet from Gillard during the election wrote “"The
election will be on 21 August. With your support I will
move Australia forward. JG”

5. Examples of #ausvotes Tweets:
• ''i don't want to vote for either of them after watching this
crap #middleclassnightmares #ausvotes”
• crazyjane13: “Dear Mr Speaker, Please excuse Wyatt from
Parliament today. He has a cold. Signed, Wyatt’s Mum.
#ausvotes.”
• benbirchall: “Nobody’s in charge, Australia! Let’s eat the
condensed milk out of the can! #ausvotes.”
• adzap: “It will truly be the death of chivalry if none of these
independent men offer their seat to a lady. #ausvotes.”
• RT @mikfrawley: “RT @oldspace Hello Australia. Look at
your parliament, now back at me. Sadly, it isn’t me, but it is
hung like me. #ausvotes.”

6. Brun and Burgess
• “explicit form of publicness”, which invites
attention from other participants in the
#ausvotes conversation.
• A conversation that engaged 36 287 unique
Twitter users and 415 009 Tweets

7. Class discussion:
• Is providing commentary a form of journalism
in the microblogging sphere?
• Opinion writing is journalism so is this form of
microblogging in 140 characters not a form of
journalism too?
• Is the Twittersphere considered a form of
citizen journalism?

8. Just a platform to throw around what’s
on your mind?
• It’s a platform where people are able to
interact with the process of journalism rather
than journalism itself.
• Mapping the on-goings of the campaign rather
than reporting news.
• One tweet can undermine what is being said
by a politician, giving us an honest
perspective.

9. Activity
• Spilt the room downinto FOUR groups; journalists, general public, Jane
Jones and John Smith.
• We want you to REACT the way your group would do so in the following
situation, using the Twitter format of 140 characters. Add #mdia5003 and
@reply or reTweet at least one other Tweet made by someone else.
• Pretend it’s the lead up to a Federal Election in our fictional country
“land”, it’s John Smith up against Jane Jones once again. During the public
debate John Smith swears, not in a derogatory way towards anyone in
particular, he simply says the F-word. He is talking about his views on the
proposed National Broadband Network, and how they should be scrapped
to pay aid to those affected by the “Northern State” flood.

10. References:
Websites:
• Birmingham, J (14th August 2010), In cyberia, all the twitters is not gold, Sydney Morning Herald online;
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/in-cyberia-all-that-twitters-is-not-gold-20100813-1239q.html
• Bourke, L (29th July 2010), Twittersphere Day 11, Sydney Morning Herald online;
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/twittersphere-day-11-20100729-10wih.html
• Bruns, A., (27th July 2010), All a-Twitter on the campaign, Sydney Morning Herald online;
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/all-atwitter-on-the-campaign-trail-20100727-10tl9.html#ixzz23lyljmWr
• Delaney, B (29th July 2010), Our virtual selves linger on, long after we’ve shuffled off, Sydney Morning Herald
online;
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/our-virtual-selves-linger-on-long-after-weve-shuffled-off-
20100728-10w1w.html
• Maley, J (7th August, 2010), Twitter, the new kid in town with all the hot goss..er, news, Sydney Morning Herald
online;
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/twitter-the-new-kid-in-town-with-all-the-hot-goss--er-news-
20100809-11rmu.html
• Menzie’sHouse, Top 5 #ausvotes Twitter Posts, Menzie’s House blog online:
http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2010/08/top-5-ausvotes-twitter-posts.html
Articles:
• Bruns, A. and Burgess, J. (2011), ‘#ausvotes: How Twitter covered the 2010 Australian Federal Election’ in
Communcation, Politics and Culture, Volume 44, Issue 2, RMIT Publishing: Australia, pages 37 – 56.
• Java, A. Song, X., Finin, T. and Tseng, B. (2007), ‘Why we Twitter: Understanding microblogging usage and
communities’ in Proceeding, ACM Publishing: New York, page 56 – 65.
• Lasorsa, D. L., Lewis, S. C. and Holton, A., E., (2012), ‘Normalising Twitter: Journalism practice in an emerging
communication space’ in Journalism Studies, Volume 13, Issue 1, Routledge: UK, pages 19 – 36.