CNN Checks Out Candidates on Facebook

By John Eggerton
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

CNN and Facebook have combined on a tool to provide a
real-time look at who is talking about the presidential and vice presidential
candidates on the social net.

CNN.com/FBinsights, launched Monday at the Republican
National Convention, will provide charts and graphics representing the volume
of activity, which CNN will tap into during its coverage of the convention Aug.
27-30 in Tampa.

The announcement is the latest product of a multiplatform
partnership. "We are excited to build on our long relationship with Facebook to
transform social media conversation into real-time data," said CNN Digital senior
VP KC Estenson in a statement. "By teaming up with Facebook and Mass Relevance
[which developed the tool], we can accurately gauge the buzz surrounding this
election and deliver it to CNN Digital users, literally as it's happening."

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.