From Reuters To Twitter & 2012-The Race Is On

I have to admit sometimes I feel myself being drawn into that race to be the first to report to my followers on Twitter of some extraordinary news or fascinating new information that will start a lively conversation or heated debate.

I just watched the 1940 biopic A Dispatch From Reuters and found myself relating to Paul Julius Reuters passion and excitement at being the first to report stock news from Paris. As the telegraph system was evolving his courier pigeon service was faster than the train carrying the post. When a telegraph link was established from Ireland to Britain and then to Europe the news from America was still being tossed into the sea in canisters, picked up in Ireland and telegraphed to England. Reuter was the first to report the assassination of Lincoln to Europe and the now Reuters News Agency's reputation was built on being first to report the latest news.