The Power of Twitter Helps Raise Journalist’s Bail

“I don’t like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there.” ~ Charles Bukowski

Earlier this year, I blogged about wanting to be Ron Sylvester, Wichita Eagle journalist and “courtroom Twitterer”. I still think he’s one of the coolest reporters on the planet. When he tweeted that he was in jail on Friday and needed help raising bail, I couldn’t wait to help the now coolest incarcerated reporter on the planet.

Okay, I’m pretty sure Ron wasn’t in a real jail, just figuratively locked up at the Society of Professional Journalists Conference in Indianapolis, raising money for the SPJ Legal Defense Fund. The charge? “Tweeting mid program.”

Ron tweeted, “I am in jail at #spj100. My bond is to raise $100 for SPJ's legal defense fund to keep journalists out of jail. Help!”

I would’ve sent Ron the whole $100 bucks because I think that much of him, but being on more of a peanut butter and jelly budget, I had to content myself with pledging $10 and re-tweeting his plea for help.

But I hadn’t even hit send on my tweet, when Ron tweeted, “I am out. Thanks to @bobbyrozzell @soyjournalista @ExpertParalegal @stephbarnard @hollyedgell and the Kansas Pro Chapter of SPJ.” and “The power of Twitter helped raise $100 bail in record time. #spj100.”

Ron continues his groundbreaking use of technology in courtroom journalism, with his new Common Law Video Series covering Wichita’s courts at his blog, What the Judge Ate for Breakfast. This is an excellent resource for legal professionals and students interested in the criminal justice system.

And Ron? Nice use of your Twitter "get out of jail free" card.