Officials declined to identify the shooter in a press conference Friday, and instead pointed to LAX’s official Twitter account, @LAX_Official as the public’s source for the “most real-time information you can get” on both the shooting and the effects on incoming and outgoing flights. The airport’s official website has been down as a result of an overload of traffic. For flight information, LAX is retweeting airlines’ tweets with contact information and updates. The Twitter account has been very active since the incident and is continually updated with information. (via For Real-Time LAX Shooting Info, Officials Point to Twitter)
This is probably a good way to get news out in crisis situations. We discussed this in Chicago prior to the G-8 and NATO events in the city. Authenticating a twitter could be problematic, but tweets are good for localizing and for getting quick news out.
Check this too 9 tweets that changed Twitter.
Barbara K Iverson 