ROLAND MARTIN, TWITTER & A TEACHABLE MOMENT

About twitter....If you are compelled to communicate according to the 140 character limit prescribed by the Tweeterverse then do us all a favor and tweet responsibly. Is that too much ask? Probably.  That's the thing about this social media space, there are no parameters. No guidelines on best practices. No manners. But lots of room for disrespect, insensitivity and missteps.

Just ask CNN Political Analyst Roland Martin. He tweeted while watching the recent Superbowl and a commercial featuring David Beckham modeling his line of men's underwear for H&M. Here's what he said: "Ain't no real bruhs going to H&M to buy some damn David Beckham underwear!"
"If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about Beckham's
 H &M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him."
In another Tweet he wrote, "Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass."

Really? Did he think he was tweeting to his friends around the table? When he hit send he tweeted to folks he has never even met. In Twitter lingo those people are referred to as his "followers".  So if you have followers it is presumed that you lead.  What a missed opportunity. Or maybe not.

There was immediate outrage from the Gay and Lesbian community calling his remarks homophobic and calling for his firing.  There have been countless acts of violence and intolerance against the Gay and Lesbian community. When people live in a climate of hate and ridicule it's not hard to understand how his comments sent up red flags and were perceived as insensitive. When young men and women are being bullied and committing suicide because their sexual preference is deemed unacceptable, there's a great deal at stake.
Roland Martin apologized and said he meant no harm.
http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/?p=31665
Too quote Carly Simon, " But it's too late baby, now it's too late."

 Mr. Martin is a journalist on a major cable news network. He also hosts a weekly show, Washington Watch on  TV One.
 His profile is very visible. He delivers political commentary on a daily basis. He has a platform.  But I guess he got caught up in the moment and forget how much power he holds.  He forgot that in the land of Twitter he is a leader with 'followers'.  He forgot that any type of social media is essentially a platform, especially when you are a recognized, high profile person. When public figures from any walk of life engage in forms of social media like twitter, that's exactly what they are doing 'engaging' masses of people.  And all eyes are watching from 'Big Brother' to his little sister, groups, organizations and others who are known only by their hashtag. Some things really are better left unsaid on Twitter or anywhere else.  High profile or low profile we should all slow down and think twice before we hit send.

CNN eventually suspended Roland Martin acknowledging in a statement that his tweets were, "regrettable and offensive" and said that he would "not be appearing on our air for the time being." http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/08/politics/cnn-roland-martin/index.html?iref=allsearch

On the Internet people are debating if CNN's actions were too weak or too hard. Either way his comments will forever be attached to him. Whenever you google Roland Martin this episode of inappropriate tweeting will surface along with other more professional and distinguished associations. Is Martin homophobic? Maybe he is. Maybe he isn't. But his actions are a clear example of how strong and far reaching social media can be. What started as a tweet intended to amuse ended as, "oops, my bad!"

The National Association of Black Journalists, NABJ, released a statement saying, "We are reminded that what we communicate in print and broadcast--and now through social media--has considerable power. NABJ does not support any commentary in any medium that is insensitive or offensive." They added, "this a teachable moment for all journalists."
http://www.nabj.org/news/83265/Statement-from-NABJ-on-Roland-Martins-Suspension-from-CNN.htm

Martin in damage control mode has agreed to meet with GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. In a tweet he wrote, "I look forward to meeting with GLAAD in the near future and having a productive dialogue." GLAAD in a tweet response wrote, "We look forward to a productive dialogue and to working together as well."

 As a well known journalist he is being held to a high standard. But listen, to whom much is given, much is expected. He should have known better. I bet he knows now. His tweets were childish. So now Roland Martin has to take a time out.  No missed opportunity here. This is most definitely a teachable moment.