ABC World News Anchor Diane Sawyer is new to the Twitterverse – quite new. Her first tweet came on Friday and over the weekend she has amassed 44 tweets. Sawyer didn’t choose to ease into the service, but rather jump right in with a live-tweeting session.
Last night, ABC aired her two-hour interview of Jaycee Dugard, the now 31-year-old woman who was kidnapped when she was just 11-years-old. She was taken near her home in South Lake Tahoe, California in 1991 and held captive by convicted rapist Phillip Garrido and his complicit wife Nancy.
Jaycee was discovered in 2009 after Garrido suspiciously emerged with Jaycee and the two girls that he had fathered with her over the course of her abduction. Authorities became suspicious when the two girls referred to him as “daddy” at the parole hearing, as they were under the impression that he had no children.
After hours of questioning with Jaycee Dugard, who was identified as “Alyssa” by Garrido, the truth came out and Garrido and his wife were arrested. Convicted of kidnapping, false imprisonment and rape, Garrido was sentenced to 431 years in prison and his wife 36 years to life.
The whole ordeal enthralled the nation, and last night Diane Sawyer sat down for the much anticipated special with Dugard.
She announced on Friday in her first tweet that she would be live-tweeting the special –
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerFiring up my thumbs… Thanks all for the welcome. Looking forward to live tweeting w you during #JayceeABC special. Sun 9-11p/E.
2 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
She then kicked off the live-tweeting of the interview, which was taped earlier this weekend, with this tweet –
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerBig TV night @ABC : almost time for #JayceeABC special. Big night for me: first time live tweeting. Here goes! 12 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
Here are some of the 40 or so tweets from Sawyer during the airing of the interview –
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerThis is tough. Book detailed. Important for me that J be comfortable with what she says out loud #JayceeABC 12 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerMom Terry: Spirited and warm. Eloquent. Fellow Kentucky girl (!) 11 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerYes, it’s me. How can I prove it? RT @4t9rs: @DianeSawyer West coast here; so it hasn’t come on yet. Is this really you tweeting, Diane? 10 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerA woman did this to another woman’s child. Inconceivable #JayceeABC 11 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@DianeSawyer
Diane SawyerHow did this happen? REALLY? #JayceeABC 10 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
Sawyer mostly sent out original tweets, but she also interacted with other Twitter users, answering their tweets throughout the interview. Due to her live-tweeting of the special, Sawyer has grabbed up over 11,000 followers in a matter of days.
The interview relied heavily on information that’s a part of Jaycee Dugard’s new memoir “A Stolen Life.” The book doesn’t hit shelves until Tuesday but has shot up to #1 on Amazon thanks to the Diane Sawyer special last night.
Here’s a clip of the interview –
