AFMC will use new media to announce award winners Published April 9, 2009 By Bryan Carnes Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs officials are venturing into the world of new media and for the first time will attempt to report the annual AFMC Enlisted Awards live as names of Airmen selected are announced April 9 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. A Public Affairs staffer will use the microblogging service, Twitter, to send out, or tweet, names of the winners as well as other reports of interesting activities as they happen. Microblogging is the practice of instantaneously communicating current events with short bursts of information or commentary. Twitter allows only a maximum of 140 characters in any one tweet. By registering at the Twitter Web site, individuals can receive tweets via their cell phone, email or Social Networking sites. Department of Defense employees cannot register for this service using a work computer; but increasingly, people are showing interest in receiving work-related and professional information on their home email accounts or cell phones. To register at Twitter, go to www.twitter.com. To begin following "AFMC_Now," use the search box on the Twitter homepage or go directly to the AFMC_Now Twitter page by going to www.twitter.com/AFMC_Now. AFMC Public Affairs will assess the number of followers and "re-tweets" it receives concurrent with the annual awards coverage. If successful, Twitter will be one more way to communicate with the AFMC workforce. Using Twitter is one of many steps the Air Force has taken to keep up with changing technology and adapt to the way people want to receive news. In the near future Public Affairs will attempt to use other new media, including social networking services such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and YouTube. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page