As the story of three formerly missing women in Cleveland develops Tuesday, the city’s Department of Public Safety is encouraging journalists to use Twitter to get credentialed for a press conference this morning.
Media planning to come to 9am presser will need credentials. To speed process, send contact info via DM pls.
— Cleveland Safety (@CLESafety) May 7, 2013
(DM means “direct message,” a way of communicating privately on Twitter.)
Reached by email, Cleveland DPS communications planner Erica Creech says she’s the person behind the @CLESafety account and that this is the first time the department has used Twitter in this way.
“We were short staffed and I was trying to keep up with all the additions to our distribution list but wanted to get info out so I gave it a shot…seems to work so long as you can then keep up with Twitter,” she writes. “Since I can more easily access Twitter via mobile devices, it is always handy…plus messages are shorter, so less typing.”
The DPS has a useful blog, too, with updates Monday about the women’s discovery and three suspects’ arrests.
