CNN 2011-01-31

“What we’re now able to do is connect government to people, people to people, people to government.”

Is Twitter the latest diplomatic tool of choice? As more government officials turn to tweets, the media debates whether the technology is good- or bad- for followers¹. Phoenix-based KNXV explains how the U.S. State Department is using the 140-character updates.

“The department in fact is bypassing traditional news outlets² to try and connect directly and in real time with overseas audiences in the throes of unrest and upheaval³. In recent days, department spokesman PJ Crowley has tweeted to knock down rumors⁴, amplify⁵ U.S. policy positions and appeal for calm and even to try and urge reforms in countries like Haiti and Lebanon.”

But even though more officials are taking to Twitter-  an expert reminds NBC- the technology is still new.

“This hasn’t been done before at the State Department or any other U.S. agency that I’m aware of. So we’re creating something from scratch.”

But critics say government relations on the Web could be controversial. Bloomberg News reports, Twitter’s cancelation of a scheduled maintenance at the request of government officials has raised some eyebrows⁶.

“It’s also a threat to the extent that it raises political risks. And the blog post that Biz Stone, Twitter’s founder⁷, put up seemed very carefully worded. It says ‘we agree that free flow of information is important, but at the same time we’re not an arm of the state department. They don’t have any say in our decision making.’”

American leaders aren’t the only ones experimenting with political tweets. An Irish political party gearing up to select its new leader caused a stir last week after tweeting its preference.

“The tweet was ‘retweeted’ hundreds of times to an audience of tens of thousands of people around the country.”

Alec Ross tells CNN that this mass move to the Web means more than just keeping up with the times.

“The technology in and of itself is not what’s interesting and what’s important. What’s interesting and important are the goals technology can help produce.”

According to Reuters, Twitter is set to triple its advertising⁸ revenue this year. The social networking site is currently valued at $3.7 billion.

1 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

2 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 amplify   

vt.放大，增强；详述，详加解说

参考例句：

• The new manager wants to amplify the company.新经理想要扩大公司。
• Please amplify your remarks by giving us some examples.请举例详述你的话。

6 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。