CNN’s Rick Sanchez: ‘Being on Twitter is like having 50,000 editors’
By Ben Haber
November 24th, 2008
(Note: this is the second part of a two-part interview with CNN)
Rick Sanchez is an anchor and contributor for CNN and CNN en Español. He’s live on the air every day from 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET in an audience-driven, interactive hour about the day’s top news. You can get involved in the show by following him on Twitter and checking out his blog. This past week Rick was to take a quick break from his tweeting to answer a few questions about the show:
RaceTalk: CNN has really started to separate itself from other news outlets through its involvement in Twitter. What triggered this involvement?
Rick Sanchez: A need to be more connected to our viewing audience triggered this. We needed to hear what’s on their minds and illustrate it in real time. The idea is to reach out to potential viewers where they live, on the internet.
RaceTalk: Many people at CNN, including both of you, have been very active on Twitter. How have you found this experience, and how much interactions have you had with your followers?
RS: It is a smart audience that makes me smarter, and makes me a better journalist. It’s like having 50 thousand editors, that’s how many people follow me and I talk to. I even bumped into one at the airport while passing through security. The TSA agent recognized me and said the immortal words: I twitter with you.
RaceTalk: How has your use of Twitter evolved over your show, and is it different then what you expected heading into it?
RS: Twitter is now used before the show to learn public interest on particular news topics; it’s also used on-air during developing stories or press conferences or breaking news to illustrate immediate reaction to these events. It’s all about immediate feedback.
RaceTalk: How many tweets do you usually receive for each show, and how do you go about vetting through all of them?
RS: Usually hundreds, but sometimes reaches up to a thousand tweets daily. Producers and I read through all tweets before they air to avoid foul language, and we aim for balance when possible.
RaceTalk: In what ways do you see the show continuing to evolve with Twitter, and do you have any future plans that you can share with us?
RS: No, if I told you what our plans are, I’d have to kill you. Stay tuned!
RaceTalk: From a news angle, what part of Twitter do you think is more important – a way to distribute news quickly to a large audience, or way to drive people to CNN.com?
RS: It really makes the show more or of a conversation, as opposed to a speech. It’s the next generation. And it’s here.
RaceTalk: Is there anything else you’d like to add that people should be aware of?
RS: Yes, I’m now going to interact on my twitter page and with my daily blog at cnn.com/ricksanchez. Come on over and visit.
Entry Filed under: RaceTalk Interviews
11 Comments Add your own
1. racetalkblog.com » &hellip | November 24th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
[...] This is the first part of a two-part interview with [...]
2. RaceTalk | November 24th, 2008 at 8:21 am
New RaceTalk Post: CNN’s Rick Sanchez: ‘Being on Twitter is like having 50.. http://tinyurl.com/6zyufl
3. Ben Haber | November 24th, 2008 at 9:40 am
My Q&A with @ricksanchezcnn http://snurl.com/6nxms
4. DANIEL STALLSWORTH | December 10th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
ON THE BAIL OUT ON THE BIG THREE. I MY SELF BELIEVE WE NNED SOMTHING IN THE USA.WE HAVE SOLD OUT EVERYTHING ELSE.PUT RESTRICTIONS ON IT FOR THE BAIL OUT.BUT SOME SAY.LET THEM GO DOWN.AND. LET PEOPLE NO THE NEX TIMEYOU SEE SOME ON ON THE STREETS.ANDYOU SAID THATS THE CHOICE THAY MADE THAY WILL NO IN ALOT OF CASSES THAT COMMENT IS FALSE. I MY SELF THINK .WE BETTER DO SOMTHING OR WE WILL BE A THIRD WOULD COUNTRY.I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE REST OF THE WORLD.THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS TO SET THE STANDERS FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRYS.SO REPUBLICANS DEMACRATS. START WORKING TO GEATHER.YOU REPRASENT THE PEOPLE .AND YOUR INBARASING US TO NO END WITH ALL THE GREED AND FIGHTING.
5. SARAH SMITH | February 3rd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
WHY DO YOIU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ADDRESSING PRESIDENT OBAMA AS PRESIDENT?
6. ajermacans | February 16th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Rick I remember about three weeks ago Senator Neator told his GOP members no matter what the democrats come up with the stimulus package we have to disagree with what ever it is.I’m a independent but still couldn’t believe that he could say this publically.
7. racetalkblog.com » &hellip | March 5th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
[...] she be doing anything different than what Rich Sanchez and others have been doing for some time? I’m not really sold on that, but I’m hoping [...]
8. Koffi Tsogbe | June 7th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Dear Rick
Your comment about Bill O/reilly. I think you are the ony anchor who can put Bill on his place, He always think he has the last word which is wrong
I will be contacting you for more comments.
King Koffi
9. Twitter: Are You An Engag&hellip | July 7th, 2009 at 9:35 am
[...] likely to respond to a DM (they respond to 84 percent of incoming DMs) and CNN’s Rick Sanchez replies to 1 in every 3.23 @ messages he [...]
10. Michael | January 22nd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Hey Rick this is a message to u, Anderson Cooper and all your Obama bashing colleagues. Obama has been in office for one year and is the only President that I know of to actually try and follow is campaign promises! You are a reporter so REPORT AND BE OBJECTIVE!!! No one gives a damn about your opinion, just give us the facts and give Obama a break!
11. PR and Social Media Blog &hellip | October 5th, 2010 at 7:52 am
[...] to adopt Twitter, using the service for a show he debut in in September 2008. In November 2008 RaceTalk interviewed Sanchez about his use of Twitter. At the time, Sanchez told us that Twitter makes his show more or of a [...]
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