2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe Internet turned to a Google doc for caucus results, 'media was nearly silent on his victory
"Amid Hawaii delays, the Internet turned to a Google doc for caucus results, 'the mainstream media was nearly silent on his victory, voters took the electoral process into their own hands.'
Saturday marked the first time Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders swept a full round of caucuses, defeating front-runner Hillary Clinton in all three of the day's presidential contests.
But when the mainstream media was nearly silent on his victory, voters took the electoral process into their own hands.
Overnight, a Google document built by a handful of strangers became the go-to source for the caucus results. Its creators were the first to project Sanders' victory, as the mainstream media waited on stalling, overwhelmed caucus organizers.
As organizers in Hawaii scrambled to gather results, Alec Salisbury compiled his own set of stats from his computer in his Ithaca College dorm. With a group of three to 10 strangers, the 20-year-old college student broke the story of Sanders' landslide victory"
That Google doc was a lifesaver last night!
http://www.orrazz.com/2016/03/amid-hawaii-delays-internet-turned-to.html?m=1
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I blame the party for sitting on results. The media cannot report on data not issued by the officials in charge. With elections it is the way it is.
We have had that happen on occasion here in San Diego, when the registrar takes hours, and we are as frustrated as the general public. And no, I did not report using the google document (though called it before I went to bed), because it was not official data. Happily the results matched that very closely though.
NWCorona
(8,541 posts)But there was no reason for us to wait for that long last night.
I just glad the Internet and this doc provided a stopgap.
haikugal
(6,476 posts)I love it!!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)On the Saturday before Easter.
If results had come in during prime time on a weeknight, it would've gotten the same coverage as every other caucus and primary.