Dharm Makwana

When my editor tells me to Twitter I ask, how many tweets boss?

Today's assignment to cover an anti-Olympic protest, which started at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ended metres away from B.C. Place as the opening ceremony took place inside, was quite the experiment in real-time reporting.

The result of the test reminded me that telling a story accurately takes thought and observation -- two traits a 140-characters sentence never truly allows.

In my Twitter stream posted below the key tweet that's missing is about a group of protesters who rushed the police line leading uniformed officers to push back.

When police exercised force I was swept up, almost off my feet and sent back about two metres with the rest of the crowd on the front line.

Instead of posting to Twitter my gut said, call your editor and tell him to change the story I had filed an hour ago.

"Ammend the story. Amend the story," were the words I shouted into my phone.

Why I chose the word "ammend" is beyond me.

I finally found my footing and then may have used the word please in making my request. My memory's kind of fuzzy on this point.

What's clear, however, is that tweeting  in the middle of that particular conflict should have been the last thing on my mind.

#Twitter #Fail


Here's the stream:

#anti#Olympic sentiment is bound to boil over as protesters gather at #VAG for march on #opening #ceremonies about 7 hours ago

Expecting the worst. Hope it doesn't come to this RT @ctvbc: Street medics prepared for violence at protest http://tinyurl.com/yz2nzah about 7 hours ago

Partiers upset protesters at VAG about 6 hours ago

My hero Mark Yuen http://tweetphoto.com/11189291 about 5 hours

The protest is moving slowly down Georgia towards BC Place about 5 hours ago

Tourist are taking as many photos as journalists of protesters at #van2010 about 5 hours ago

Protesters have reached BC Place. The crowd remains peaceful. Choppers are flying overhead about 4 hours

It's a waiting game now. Does this protest escalate on another rainy Vancouver night? about 3 hours ago

Protesters cheer as new line of police join forces. Police appear to be pushing on the crowd about 3 hours ago

Front line cops have no batons or shields. about 3 hours ago

Police have moved a foot forward. Inspectors on watch at Terry Fox memorial. Ironic about 3 hours ago

Protesters launching pylons at police. about 3 hours ago

Flags http://tweetphoto.com/11198599

Another line of police added. Front line inching forward #van2010 about 3 hours ago

Water bottles thrown at cops about 3 hours ago

A chopper is hovering well above protest site #van2010 about 3 hours ago

Protesters offer an out with a march back to gallery no one moves. about 3 hours ago

An element of calm has returned to protest. Tourist are mixing with protesters to see what's happening. about 2 hours ago

For the first time tonight the protesters have gone silent. about 2 hours ago

An element of calm has returned to protest. Tourist are mixing with protesters to see what's happening. about 2 hours ago

For the first time tonight the protesters have gone silent. about 2 hours ago

The canadian olympic team are on the big screen. Do they know what's happening outside? about 2 hours ago

Confronting police at the front - a dance party in the back. This crowd has turned into one serious mullet about 2 hours ago

Protest called to an end. Thousands leave, hundreds still remain about 2 hours ago

VPD wants their say. Scrum at 8:15 pm about 1 hour ago

Chief Chu praises officer's restraint at protest. Two VPD officers injured by projectiles. 21 minutes ago

Gretzky leaves B.C. Place to light external cauldron where protesters had gathered. Should they have held on? 6 minutes ago