In a pub in Glasgow with my mum to see some ska band. Just paid £3 for two drinks. I forgot that was even a thing that was possible.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
What a charming tweet. Wesley Shearer, a 21-year-old man hoping to make his way in the music business, was enjoying an ordinary Friday night out with his mother watching Esperanza performing a live gig.A couple of hours later, he was the most sought-after man in Scotland.
Holy fucking shit. The roof in The Clutha Bar just collapsed mid gig. People have been caught under it, injuries + smoke everywhere. Fuck.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
This is how the world first heard about the helicopter crash in Glasgow. But it was the tweet below that set him apart.
This is unbelievable. Just spent 20 minutes pulling people out the bar. Apparently a helicopter crashed on the roof. pic.twitter.com/4hoSwgwX2E
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
Dramatic words and a sharp photograph - with the helicopter blade clearly visible sticking out of the roof in the centre of the picture. An editor's dream.
Micah Grimes in America was the first to pick up on it:
@scotscribbler Woah! Glad you're OK, Wesley. Would you mind if ABC News in NYC uses this picture with credit to you?
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) November 29, 2013
Shearer told him to go ahead and continued tweeting with a healthy dose of modesty as friends bombarded him with questions, mostly asking if he was all right.He was soon trending in Glasgow, then Scotland, then Manchester, Ireland and even Canada.
A young man who had first helped with the rescue and then told the world what had happened. Just the sort of level-headed hero we all love, so it's hardly surprising that his Twitter following grew as more and more people pointed to him as the best source for the story.
In fact, he related what he saw in very few tweets:
Still no proper updates on what has actually happened. Now being moved away from the scene. Some people still trapped and injured outside.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
I'm only posting this because people are asking. My mum and I are both fine. We were at the other side of the bar. Luckily.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
We've now been moved in to Holiday Inn Express as witnesses. Helicopter crash confirmed. Talk of fatalities but again, not confirmed.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
It was a police helicopter that crashed. Still no update on casualties.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
We're now on our way home. None the wiser about potential casualties. I just hope they are minimal. Spare a thought for those affected.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
I'd just like to say a huge thanks to the emergency services, especially the fire brigade, tonight. Outstanding under such circumstances.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
The Labour MP Jim Murphy, who was spotted in Shearer's picture, had also helped with the rescue and tweeted about the crash. Both gave television interviews and, once he got home, Shearer was full of praise for the MP.
What a fantastic live interview from @jimmurphymp on tonight's events despite so many stupid questions. Especially in such a state of shock.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
But while Murphy already had a public profile and might have been seen as the obvious choice as the key news source, it was Shearer who found himself at the heart of a virtual media scrum.
Imagine those television images of reporters and photographers chasing celebrities down the street crying out for a quote or a picture. This was the Twitter equivalent. Grimes had been first off the blocks at 10.34, but the pack was only moments behind:
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley - is it okay for ITV News to use this picture please?
— Becky T (@CoffeeandTVchat) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Wesley - glad you are ok - can you drop me a message at @bbcbreakfast please? We're chasing this story for @bbcnews. Tnks Ben
— Ben Thomas (@bmt44) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley. I work for Sky News. Can we use your photo? Are you at the scene?
— Tadhg Enright (@TadhgEnright) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley. We are interested in using your picture. Please follow and DM your number. Thanks.
— BBC_HaveYourSay (@BBC_HaveYourSay) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler hi Scott, Gary at BBC 5 live would like to speak to you about apparent helicopter crash, pls call 0161 335 6504 asap, thanks.
— Gary Quinn (@garymquinn) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi, it's Chris from @DailyMirror. Can we please use your twitter picture on our website? Thanks
— Christopher Richards (@ChrisGRichards) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, would you mind the @Telegraph using this photo online with credit to you? Very many thanks and stay safe.
— Marta Cooper (@martaruco) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Did you take this photo Wesley? Can you confirm is news organizations can use it?
— Kevin Donnellan (@Kevind04) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler hi Wesley can we use your picture on Sky News?
— Roddy Mansfield (@roddymansfield) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler hi wesley, hope all are okay. may we use your photo? — rob wile, business insider
— Rob Wile (@rjwile) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley. Could we use your photo on Sky News with credit - and would you be okay to follow me back? Kenny
— Kenny Stewart (@KennySkyNews) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi, can you please follow back so I can DM you? thanks
— Andy Hughes (@SkyAndyHughes) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, its Mel from the Daily Express here, can you send me your number? Would be great to speak to you now.
— Melissa Hills (@melissahills87) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, any chance we could speak to you about it please on BBC5live? Thanks
— Claire Thompson (@Claire_tea) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Can you speak to BBC World TV when you are in a safe place? Regards nimesh.thaker@bbc.co.uk
— nimesh thaker (@thaker_nimesh) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Can we talk to you on the BBC tonight about this incident? If you follow me on Twitter I wil DM you ?
— philo holland (@philoholland) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler can we call you - what number??
— Hugh Pym (@BBCHughPym) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley. I hope you are ok. Did you take the photo? If so can Reuters distribute it worldwide with credit to you? Thanks.
— George Sargent (@georgesarge) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler I'm writing from Press Association - can you follow me back for DM?
— Oliver Duggan (@OliDuggan) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, may we use your image of the helicopter for @TheScotsman? Will give you pic credit, of course
— Ray Philp (@rtgphilp) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Can you talk to us about this on 5Live radio? In a couple of hours?
— Theopi Skarlatos (@TheopiSkarlatos) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler May @nbcnightlynews use the pic as well, Wesley, with credit to you?
— Clare Duffy (@cduffy4) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi would we be able to use your image for the Daily Mail Online with a credit to yourself?
— Mail Online Pictures (@Mailonlinepics) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler can we spk to you on BBC Radio 5Live re. helipcoter crash? email hannah.gundry-white@bbc.co.uk or DM me your number
— Hannah White (@Hannah_W_journo) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, I'm a journalist on the BBC News Channel, can I DM you? rhoda.buchanan@bbc.co.uk
— Rhoda Buchanan (@RhodaBuchanan) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley. Can you DM me your number? Would you be able to talk to us at Sky News.
— Tadhg Enright (@TadhgEnright) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, can we use your Clutha picture on Sky News?
— Gary Mitchell (@GaryMitchellSky) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, is it possible to speak to you about this please? Please send me a DM and I will call you
— claire (@clairec100) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Wesley. glad you're safe. Hope none of my cousins were in there. Can CTV Toronto use this pic with credit to you?
— Bill Hutchison CTV (@bill_ctv) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hello - Glad you are ok. CBS News would like permission to use the helicopter picture on our broadcasts/platforms/affiliates.
— Jose Diaz Jr. (@jdiazjr) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, is it okay to use your pic on BBC website?
— Clive Lindsay (@CliveLindsayBBC) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi! I'm a reporter for the Norwegian paper Dagbladet. Ok if we use your photo against credit?
— Barstein (@barstein) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Cheryl Kalau with BBC news...Could we speak to you please? Could you send dm me with your number tx cheryl
— cheryl kalau (@kalauc10) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, Stephen here from @STVNews. Could we use this pic on our website? We would credit you. Thanks.
— StephenDaisley (@JournoStephen) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hello, could be please use your photo for TV - with credit? THANK YOU
— euronews Deutsch (@euronewsde) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, could you drop us an email on intake-editor@ruptly.tv ? We want to hear from you, thanks.
— Ruptly Newsroom (@RuptlyNewsroom) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi there. I'm a reporter with the AP. Wondering if you might have a minute to talk about what you've seen? If so #?
— Cassandra Vinograd (@CassVinograd) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler are you able to talk to BBC radio 5 live, pls call on 0161 335 6504 asap pls.
— Gary Quinn (@garymquinn) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler are you available to talk to CBS Newsradio in Los Angeles?
— David Singer (@KNXDavid) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler REUTERS news agency would like to ask you if we can distribute your pics worldwide with credit to you? Many thanks.
— George Sargent (@georgesarge) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi I'm a producer with Canadian news. Would you be able to do a phone intvu? Pls email contact to ginella.massa@bellmedia.ca
— Ginella M. (@Ginella_M) November 29, 2013
Hey @scotscribbler. Glad to hear you are ok. I work for Canadian National TV. Hoping to chat. brett.kwan@cbc.ca or DM.
— Brett Kwan (@brettkwan) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler hi Wesley, I work for the Independent. Would it be okay to use your picture online, with credit of course? Thanks
— Margot (@margotlily) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi this is Salma from CNN. Can you add me and dm your number? Want to ask about the Glasgow incident.
— Salma Abdelaziz (@SalmaCNN) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley Is this your pic? If so can Reuters distribute it worldwide? Would you like to be credited? Many thanks.
— George Sargent (@georgesarge) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, hope you are ok. Could you please follow me so I can DM you? Thanks
— Joanne Bonnar (@STVJoanne) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler would like to do a radio interview with you on the radio tonight. can you email rudy.noriega@bbc.co.uk
— Rudy Noriega (@RudyNoriega3) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler Hello Wesley, Are you available for an interview on sky new?. Glad to hear you're well.
— Lukwesa Burak (@SKYLukwesaBurak) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler Hello - I'm not sure my message got to you. Can you speak to BBC News? Regards nimesh.thaker@bbc.co.uk
— nimesh thaker (@thaker_nimesh) November 30, 2013
The Twitter crew proved a moralistic crowd and those who tweeted the original picture without reference to Shearer - even if in error - were in trouble.
Naughty @guardian crediting @scotscribbler photo as bbc photo pic.twitter.com/WObfhPaTPS
— Andrew Roberts (@arob_87) November 29, 2013
And there were many who advised Shearer to make sure he was paid for his photograph. Matthew Keys alerted him twice
@scotscribbler Don't allow news orgs to redistribute/make money off your photo without proper compensation.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler REUTERS news agency would like to ask you if we can distribute your pics worldwide with credit to you? Many thanks.
— George Sargent (@georgesarge) November 29, 2013
@georgesarge @scotscribbler Their clients pay for the photos. Do not allow Reuters to distribute without compensation.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) November 29, 2013
This agency had clearly been burnt in the past
@scotscribbler Wesley, make sure you get paid for your picture, something similar happened to me and I got paid peanuts!
— Johnston Media (@johnstonmediatv) November 29, 2013
Meanwhile this early exchange irritated our great Olympian Sir Chris Hoy:
@scotscribbler Woah! Glad you're OK, Wesley. Would you mind if ABC News in NYC uses this picture with credit to you?
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) November 29, 2013
@MicahGrimes Not at all. Go ahead.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
@scotscribbler @MicahGrimes they should pay for use of that photo of yours.
— KC (@fly276) November 29, 2013
@fly276 @scotscribbler @MicahGrimes think that's the last thing on his mind. Guy is lucky to be alive.
— Chris Hoy (@chris_hoy82) November 30, 2013
@chris_hoy82 @scotscribbler @MicahGrimes he can read it anytime later. Yes, very glad some have been lucky and can help the others.
— KC (@fly276) November 30, 2013
@fly276 @scotscribbler @MicahGrimes I know.Just think last thing on his mind is cash for a pic so reckon post was bit quick. Just my opinion
— Chris Hoy (@chris_hoy82) November 30, 2013
The whole idea seems to have bemused Shearer
Completely taken aback by how many people have said "make sure they pay you" about the media using my photo. That's the least of my worries.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
Even so, let's hope he does get proper recompense. And also let's recognise the organisations that bothered to ask permission to use the picture - while noting that others went ahead anyway, with or without crediting the hero of the hour.
David Jack, late night editor at The Times acknowledged Shearer in this tweet - but the paper was not among those to tweet him to seek permission to run the picture on its website.
Pic of helicopter crash at the Clutha Vaults pub in Stockwell Street, Glasgow. HT @scotscribbler pic.twitter.com/wu7ud9zegJ
— David Jack (@DJack_Journo) November 29, 2013
SubScribe is meanwhile indebted to Jack for pointing out that one of the firemen on duty at the Clutha last night was on the football field this afternoon, captaining Stranraer in a cup match against Clyde. Frank McKeown tweeted briefly last night
It's goin to be a busy nightshift tonight!!! pic.twitter.com/ZgCteATj6v
— Frank mckeown (@FrankoBaresi86) November 29, 2013
He was right: he worked through the night until 8am and three hours after the shift ended he was in more sombre mood as he took to Twitter again:
Last night just sinking in#Surreal#thoughts&prayerswith families#Now to Clyde FC in the @WillHillScotCup last 32#appreciatelifeslittlethings
— Frank mckeown (@FrankoBaresi86) November 30, 2013
McKeown played the full 90 minutes and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Shearer was also reflecting on the events today and this evening he returned to Twitter after a few hours' break:
Still disgusted with the photographer that ran in with his camera to take photos of the casualties immediately after the accident last night
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler hate to say it but that's his job, it's the same with the falling man from 9/11. Controversial but real life...
— Emily Wylde (@EmilyWylde) November 30, 2013
@EmilyWylde Vile. As we were struggling to pull people out he was getting in our way trying to snap photos of injured lying on the ground.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler definitely don't agree with them getting in the way. What a shame.
— Emily Wylde (@EmilyWylde) November 30, 2013
@EmilyWylde I can understand them appearing on the scene but he was acting like a pap. Pushed him out the way and told him to stop or help.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler yeah, from a far, not getting in the way. Stereotypically horrible and ruthless people who know they could make a lot of £'s
— Emily Wylde (@EmilyWylde) November 30, 2013
A common feature of the tweets from McKeown and Shearer was their obvious concern for others. Both at the crash scene and back at home, Shearer tweeted to reassure friends that he and those with him were safe and to thank people for their concern.
@acrybb We're all okay, Vicky is here too with her boyfriend. No injuries, we're okay. Thankfully.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 29, 2013
Thanks to everyone for all their tweets and texts showing their concern. I've been lucky but my thoughts are with everyone affected by this.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
@YvMcL Thank you! We're all okay, thankfully. I just hope the report of no fatalities besides those in the helicopter stays that way.
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
@Logiebear18 Just seeing this but we are all fine, thankfully. Hope you're good!
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
@DarrenBurch Everyone in my party is safe and okay, no confirmed reports as to casualties though. Hoping it's minimal by the time I wake up!
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
He clearly got little sleep. And this morning, the news hounds were still barking at his feet:
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley, Ben at Scots Sunday Express, glad to hear your ok, are u free to talk today? @chorleycake2
— Ben Borland (@chorleycake2) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler Hi Wesley.I'm w/ Canadian Broadcast Corp.Interested in speaking re:last nights crash.If you're up for it pls DMcontact info.
— Corbett Hancey (@HanceyCorb) November 30, 2013
@scotscribbler Are you the author of this photo? Can I use and post it on our sites ria.ru & youreporter.ru?
— Ты — репортер (@you_reporter) November 30, 2013
So is this citizen journalism in action? Does it prove we don't need the mainstream media?
Yes and no. Yes, it's great to have instant live coverage of a dramatic event from someone who can tell a story clearly and without letting his ego get in the way. It's a fantastic first port of call and the clamour shows how the big boys still need to get hold of those eyewitnesses.
But there are so many more facets of this story that will need to be told over the next few days; the casualty toll, the safety questions, the financial and political implications.
Wesley Shearer went home to bed, a good job well done. He will still be in demand all weekend. But he won't be expected to write the follow-ups, to interview officials. Those tasks will be undertaken by trained journalists working for mainstream organisations.
Many of those tweeting to and about Shearer described the Press and broadcasters as vultures. But those tweeters were eager enough for the news to follow someone they didn't know and had never heard of before last night. Would they describe themselves as vultures too?
Shearer proved a trusty source, and his citizen journalism proved invaluable. But neither proved that citizen journalists are ready to replace the professionals.
From what we have seen of Shearer, I doubt he would want to. And tonight he has said that there will be no interviews.
RE interviews: I won't be doing any now. It's time to let everyone else do their job while we spare a thought for victims and their families
— Wesley Shearer (@scotscribbler) November 30, 2013
Well said - and very good luck to him.
Finally, let's take a quick look at the 'old media'. Well done to the Sun for splashing on the story in all editions - no doubt thanks at least in part to the fact that its Scottish editor Gordon Smart saw the helicopter land on the pub. Smart told the BBC that he had been getting into his car 250m away when he heard a 'misfiring engine' above him. He looked up to see the helicopter fall on the Clutha.
The Glasgow Herald and Scotsman pulled out all the stops as you'd expect, the Mail had it as the Scottish splash and the Times had a picture on its Scotland front page. The Guardian, Telegraph and Independent had nothing, the price of centralisaton down south.
But what was going on at the Aberdeen Press & Journal? A huge jolly puff, an iffy Black Friday splash and a single line of white on red pointing to the story on page 11. SubScribe was aghast to find there a full story and picture. If you can do it on page 11, you can do it on page 1. All it required was to clear the splash space for the crash and run the whole shopping nonsense on 5. Same number of pages to jig at last minute, but a better paper.
And here are a couple of the nationals' websites from this morning. As you see, the most in-demand photograph of 12 hours ago has passed its sell-by date.
Happy Saturday.
@gameoldgirl
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