Difference between revisions of "TCOT Report"
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===Community list=== | ===Community list=== | ||
| − | The list was first placed on the [[World Wide Web|web]] on November 28, 2008. In the time since then, it has become a bit of a "rallying point" for conservatives on Twitter.<ref name=list/> Because | + | The #TCOT list was first placed on the [[World Wide Web|web]] on November 28, 2008. In the time since then, it has become a bit of a "rallying point" for conservatives on Twitter.<ref name=list/> Because the TCOT Report bloggers and members on the #TCOT list are involved in a [[grassroots]] movement, it is said that community members "cannot be merely a 'campaign profile' [or] 'political office holder profile' or a 'radio or television program or publication promotional profile.'"<ref>[http://kithbridge.com/tcot/index.php/about-the-list About the List]</ref> |
===TCOT on PJTV=== | ===TCOT on PJTV=== | ||
Revision as of 21:23, November 22, 2009
The TCOT Report is an Internet news Web site from a conservative point of view, co-founded by Michael Patrick Leahy and Rob Neppell. The TCOT Report uses the tagline, "Breaking News From the Conservative World!" The news source also goes by the name "#TCOT Report," whereas the #TCOT hashtag is used by members of the community for tracking informational updates on Twitter; however, #TCOT Report does not "own" the TCOT hashtag, so sending tweets with the TCOT hashtag can be done from anyone with a Twitter account. The TCOT hashtag stands for "Top Conservatives on Twitter," which is a community of conservative Americans who think that the Republican Party has lost track of its core values.[1][2]
The TCOT Report strongly supports the Tea Party Movement, but does not endorse or have any connection as an organization with any particular Tea Party group.[3] The 4 C's of the #TCOT community are: 1. Conservatism 2. Collaboration 3. Constructive Dialogue 4. Community.
Drudge meets Twitter
The TCOT Report was modeled on Drudge Report. It has been described in the press as "Drudge meets Twitter."[4] The TCOT Report has stated the following:
| “ | They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We are hoping that our friend, Mr. Drudge, will take kindly to our efforts, and have currently sent a message to him via emissaries to make him aware of this effort, and to see if he has no objections. Should he object, we will change the format right away.[5] | ” |
Twitter Hashtag
Success in the development of the TCOT Report has widely been associated with its ability to incorporate social media technology as part of its strategy for building a reader base, namely Twitter. Since the site began, "#TCOT" has remained the most successful Twitter hashtag of all time, consistently dominating as the #1 used hashtag for tweets sent on Twitter.[6] In an independent study, Conservatives using the #TCOT hashtag out-tweeted Democrats, progressives and liberals by more than 3.5 to 1.[7]
#TCOT Report Staff
The TCOT Report relies upon the nationwide network of conservative activists who use Twitter and are members of the Top Conservatives on Twitter list to provide on duty editors with breaking news of interest to conservatives, and at a speed "faster than any other current news source."[8] The website also relies upon the cleverness and initiative of #TCOT feed readers, the TCOT Report bloggers, and its columnists for much of the content. The TCOT Report has a stated goal to build a team of 24 people who can update the news website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currently there are four Editors, one Publisher, and one Managing Editor. The four editors are Michael J. Bernard, a user on Twitter named, "Johnny Alamo, Pundit," Dennis Mooney, and another Twitter user named "Citizen Strategist." Michael Patrick Leahy is the Publisher, and Bill Meeker was named Managing Editor.[9]
Rob Neppell, co-founder of another organization called Top Conservatives on Twitter, is not associated with the TCOT Report news source, nor is The TCOT Report affiliated with Top Conservatives on Twitter, though Mr. Leahy is a co-founder of Top Conservatives on Twitter.[10]
Community list
The #TCOT list was first placed on the web on November 28, 2008. In the time since then, it has become a bit of a "rallying point" for conservatives on Twitter.[3] Because the TCOT Report bloggers and members on the #TCOT list are involved in a grassroots movement, it is said that community members "cannot be merely a 'campaign profile' [or] 'political office holder profile' or a 'radio or television program or publication promotional profile.'"[11]
TCOT on PJTV
Top Conservatives on Twitter co-founder Michael Patrick Leahy has also created "TCOT on PJTV," as part of the Conservative movement along with American Tea Party with Glenn Reynolds. TCOT on PJTV covers the latest directions in the Tea Party Movement and features the leaders and activists at the local, state, and federal level.[12]
Breaking news exclusives
Similar to the Drudge Report, the TCOT Report primarily focuses on linking to stories with breaking news of interest to conservatives. However, the publisher, Michael Patrick Leahy, occasionally writes exclusive breaking news stories, spotlighting its goal to publish news at a speed "faster than any other current news source." Leading up to the November 2009 New York 23rd elections, in an exclusive breaking news story, the TCOT Report uncovered the widely controversial actions by Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, how she "threw the nomination to her friend Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, despite the wishes of the majority of Republicans in the county where she also serves as party chairman."[13][14][15] As the story unraveled, Dede Scozzafava, the Republican nominee for Congress in the NY 23 special election dropped out from the race less than an hour after a Siena Poll showed that she could not win.[16] The TCOT Report endorsed conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, as he was the only true conservative running for Congress.
The Four "C's" of #TCOT
Approved unanimously by all #TCOT Project Servant-Leaders during a January 8, 2009 conference call, members of the Top Conservatives on Twitter website are signifying their agreement with the following four principles, called the 4 C's:
- 1. Conservatism -- We believe in the return to the concept of limited government in the United States. We support (1) limited government (2) free markets (3) individual liberty (4) a strong national defense. *
- 2. Collaboration -- We believe that advances in technology provide incredible opportunities for collaboration between like minded groups. We seek and respond to opportunities to collaborate with any conservative group or organization. Within #TCOT, we support collaborative efforts through the use of self organizing work groups based on the principles of Project Servant-Leadership. We believe that once hearts and minds are committed to a cause, time and treasure will follow.
- 3. Constructive Dialogue -- We believe in the power of ideas, and that coordial and direct dialogue, in which good manners complement good logic, will yield the best answers to problems. Constructive dialogue means we refrain from the use of profanity and personal attacks as best we can, and that we seek to understand the other side of a discussion first, and then seek to clearly communicate our side.
- 4. Community -- We believe that it is important to build the conservative community on Twitter, the internet, and within the populace of the United States of America. Community is built by engaging, including, and setting forth a positive vision of the future. We encourage positive action to solve problems, rather than negative criticisms that point out problems but offer no solutions.
These four pillars of conservatism are four of the five pillars established at the formation of the Heritage Foundation almost three decades earlier. However, The TCOT Report is not affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, but instead is a grassroots extension of the policies the Heritage Foundation promotes.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Statement of Principles, The #TCOT Report, January 8, 2009.
- ↑ How to get the most out of #TCOT, Common Sense In Ohio, December 22, 2008.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Top Conservatives on Twitter, topconservativesontwitter.org.
- ↑ TCOT Action Projects
- ↑ #TCOT Report
- ↑ Top Ten Twitter Hashtags of All Time, TCOT Report, February 18, 2009.
- ↑ Allan Bromanich. Twiberals vs Conservatwives. The Twitter Hashtag Battle, Drunk On Politics, November 28, 2009.
- ↑ #TCOT Report
- ↑ Bill Meeker Named Managing Editor of the #TCOT Report, December 30, 2008.
- ↑ A Message from TCOT Co-Founder Rob Neppell, April 30, 2009.
- ↑ About the List
- ↑ TCOT on PJTV, PJTV.com.
- ↑ Michael Patrick Leahy. Nomination of Liberal Republican in New York 23rd Tainted by Breach of Trust, The TCOT Report, October 19, 2009.
- ↑ Michael Patrick Leahy. Republican County Chairman in NY 23rd Slams Scozzafava, Says He's Written Off Election, The TCOT Report, October 20, 2009.
- ↑ Michael Patrick Leahy. Is Dede Scozzafava's Campaign Imploding Due to Erratic Leadership and Very Odd Behavior?, The TCOT Report, October 21, 2009.
- ↑ Michael Patrick Leahy. Scozzafava Drops Out of NY 23 Race as Final Siena Poll Shows It's a 2 Man Race Between Hoffman and Owens, The TCOT Report, October 31, 2009.