Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAX Pats Itself on the Back for Twittering
Photo by = Manny = via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
()
Photo by = Manny = via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Usually when LAX is placed on a rankings list, it's about being one of the worst airports. Today, however, officials are tooting a different horn.
"Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is ranked No. 7 among airports worldwide with the number of followers on the social media site Twitter," officials announced in a press release this afternoon. The number is based on a survey by AirGate Solutions, which focuses on social media and customers at airports.
LAX earns that rank for having just over 3,200 followers since connecting with Twitter. They say it makes them "the only airport on the U.S. West Coast in the top 10." There's also a Facebook page with over 2,100 fans.
Support for LAist comes from
Sure, these are great steps to communicate with travelers, but LAX could do a lot more to be transparent.
For one, it was ridiculous that during a death investigation in Terminal 3 last week, there were zero tweets about the incident. It might be useful to let people know what's going on. Maybe you don't talk about bound hands and a hood over the dead body -- nothing like freaking out the whole airport -- but let people know there's police activity and the area is secured when appropriate.
Another way LAX should use Twitter is to interact with travelers. Logan Airport in Boston actually listens and tries to investigate complaints. And for years, the TSA's blog has been a sounding board for angry travelers that have helped improve policies.
Kudos to LAX for taking a step in the right direction, but there's a lot more work to be done to truly improve relations.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist