Eric Kuhn, CNN’s Justin Bieber of Social Networking
Have you heard of Eric Kuhn? Probably not, but you’ve almost certainly read him somewhere — in a story on CNN.com about the intersection of politics and tech, or in a tweet or a retweet or maybe on the Huffington Post or CBS.com. Or maybe you’ve seen him at a tech conference, or a politics conference, or a media conference, on a panel or chatting up the crowd, lanyard swinging proudly around his young neck, blackberry in hand and often up at his ear. He was recently named by Politics Daily as one of “The Top 20 Political Journalists on Twitter,” along with people like Jake Tapper (ABC), Mark Knoller (CBS), Chuck Todd (NBC) and Chris Cillizza (WaPo), all of whom were not still in college during the 2008 election. People who know Eric and have watched him go from a super-eager college kid somehow landing major media luminaries for his Hamilton College radio show to the social media equivalent of Larry Levy are not surprised — and are probably just glad he’s so nice, because they know he’ll be signing their paychecks one day. I’m one of them.
He didn’t pay me to write that line; he didn’t have to. Meet — and remember — Eric Kuhn.
You are the “Audience Interaction Producer” at CNN. What does that mean?
I get that question a lot! My role at CNN focuses on helping CNN – and shows like John King, USA and Rick’s List – take full advantage of social and emerging media platforms available to them. Whether it’s programming or promotion, social media offers us a lot of opportunities.
I follow you on Twitter, and either you’re always working or you’re always having fun, or both. Is there even a difference between “work” and “social” in a job like yours?
You know that bumper sticker from Ben and Jerry’s that says, “If it’s not fun, why do it?” I try to live my life by that motto. Someone asked me yesterday what my work hours were, and honestly for someone who works at CNN, that’s a bizarre question – we’re always working (but in that great, geeky way). I love creative and interesting people, so you can imagine how learning from my friends and colleagues at CNN is a dream come true.
As “Audience Interaction Producer,” how do you define the CNN audience? And how do you facilitate interaction – by making Twitter introductions between Anderson Cooper and Sn00ki? (Okay that’s a joke but I do think she’d be a valuable newsmaker to have on his show.)
First of all, Sn00ki is nothing to be joked about! Remember her Twitter conversation with John McCain?But while Anderson and Sn00ki haven’t connected via Twitter, we have done some really cool social media collaborations. For instance, we worked with @NBA and arranged for Wolf Blitzer and John King to guest-tweet at a Wizards Game. It was a natural fit, since Wolf and John are both so active on Twitter – not to mention HUGE sports fans.
People often ask how a huge organization like CNN keeps up so well with social media and the answer is simple: our people. CNN has an atmosphere of innovation where everyone not only embraces technology, but the company actively provides resources and encouragement for employees on all rungs of the corporate latter to contribute to our audience’s experience and connect with them. CNN always has recognized the importance of interacting and engaging with the audience, well before social media became so important. CNN has a wide range of people tweeting – from anchors and correspondents to producers and publicists – and this diversity enables us to be nimble and connect in a meaningful way with our audience on Twitter, no matter the type of information they’re looking for.
You’re in LA right now, prepping for Larry King’s special two-hour telethon tonight to benefit the Gulf. Tell me a bit about how that project, and the social elements that CNN has brought into it.
Larry King did a similar event a few months ago for Haiti that was a big success and raised $10 million. We also created a hash tag (#CNNHelpHaiti) for the telethon that within 45 minutes became a top trending topic. What we have tried to do during Haiti (and what we will do tonight) is make the broadcast a two-screen experience where you watch CNN TV with your laptop or mobile device. Tonight if you include the hashtag #CNNHelpGulf in your tweets about the Gulf or Larry King Live, celebrities in the “Social Suite,” including Ryan Seacrest, Kathy Griffin, Alyssa Milano, Chelsea Handler and Pete Wentz, will respond to tell you how to help. Facebook is also participating, using their Disaster Relief Page to post celebrity questions and information about the telethon and how you can help. Finally, the location-based social network Gowalla has done something really awesome, where if you “check-in” at a “Parks and Nature” spot, you will receive an official “Larry King Live: How You Can Help” Pin for your Gowalla Passport, as well as a tip on how to help in the Gulf. I believe that by staying connected, we can all make a difference.
So tonight you’ll be working with Larry King and Ryan Seacrest – and I’ve also seen you hobnob with Katie Couric and Cory Booker. Namedrop. Who have been some of the coolest people you’ve met in your job?
Ha! Cory Booker is quite the social media maven and has really put new media to work for his constituents. Some of the coolest people I have met only I would think are cool (#geek). Like the guy who took the TwitPic of the plane that crashed in the Hudson and revolutionized Twitter in the news business — I was speechless! I also think the woman who works at Starbucks is so cool because she sometimes gives me free coffee! But I always enjoy working with people who are willing to jump into this brave new world and learn right alongside the rest of us.
(Ed. Photo of Kuhn and Chace Crawford taken from his Facebook page. Busted!)
I sent you an email at 9 am New York time and you responded within minutes. You’re on the West Coast. Is this one of the times when you maybe don’t love work so much?
The day I don’t love what I do is the day I should leave. I’m so fired up about what we’re doing tonight, I couldn’t sleep – I was thinking about what else we can do for the Gulf. And to be perfectly honest, helping to raise awareness and work with the awesome team at Larry King Live doesn’t qualify as “work” in my book.
You’re young. Sometimes when I see you I have the urge to pinch your cheek. How does a whippersnapper like yourself go from NBC to CBS to the NBA to CNN?
A lot of coffee and a good suit and tie!
Who are your mentors?
This is my favorite question out of anything, because I have so much gratitude and respect for the people who are my mentors (and the list is semi-long). Actually, since it was father’s day yesterday, my dad is a huge mentor of mine and has taught me more about business than anyone. But in the media world, Mark Lukasiewicz (the VP of Digital Media at NBC News) was the first person I ever interned for and continues to teach me. Bob Peterson (Senior Creative Director of CBS News) takes the time to have creative jam sessions with me. Jen Farley (currently the VP of Communications for Jon Tisch) takes way to many phone calls from me. The NBA’s David Stern and CNN’s Jon Klein are also such visionaries who inspire me to think about technology and media in innovative ways. Additionally, there are numerous people at CNN who are so fantastic, and have become recent mentors, most importantly my boss Alex Wellen – he’s been a part of some of the most breakthrough political programming ever, and he teaches me something new and unexpected everyday. And finally, not sucking up here, a woman by the name of Rachel Sklar brought me under her wing while I was interning for Mark. She edited all my articles for the Huffington Post (painful, I know) and now, together, we rock every party from DC to NY to wherever we may randomly meet up.
Awwww, I’m blushing! Okay keeping on the feel-good track: CNN has really been a leader in supporting causes for social good – CNN Heroes, they were a big part of the “Hope for Haiti” telethon, and, earlier this year when I asked, they sponsored Twestival. Tonight’s telethon is another example of this. How much do ‘social good’ factors play into what you do at CNN?
The concept of “social good” is something that really feels like it’s in CNN’s DNA – from the amazing team at CNN Impact Your World to our staff who produces CNN Heroes to the folks that jumped on Hope for Haiti and tonight’s event, I feel fortunate to work with such giving, caring individuals. Earlier this month, CNN created a program called CNN’s Give 30 for 30, completely conceived by CNN employees and embraced by Turner Broadcasting. Basically, in honor of CNN’s 30th birthday, every eligible Turner employee has the opportunity to direct a company-paid donation of $30 to a charitable organization of his or her choice. To me, that’s a humbling move.
Will Larry King tweet this out?
@KingsThings is a rock star on Twitter. You would have to ask him.
Further Reading:
#CNNHELPGULF [Twitter]
McCain, Snooki talk tanning on Twitter [CNN Political Ticker]
Eric Kuhn: My Ode To 2008 [HuffPo]
Further Photos:
Kuhn with Ryan Seacrest, whom he shouted out on Twitter last night: “Looking forward to working again w/ @RyanSeacrest tomorrow who will host the “social suite” on @kingsthings Gulf Telethon.”
Kuhn with Naveen Selvadurai of Foursquare, Matt van Horn of Digg and Kuhn’s favorite mentor, me, at SXSW 2010.
Kuhn with cheerleaders at the NBA All-Star Game in February. From his Facebook page. Er, sorry buddy.
All photos taken from Kuhn’s Facebook account, with permission I’m sure he’s thinking better of.
This is a great article that in summary says that no one can make it by themselves and we all need mentors. Especially those of us who dare to Step In The Ring of Challenge and Opportunity.
But I always enjoy working with people who are willing to jump into this brave new world and learn right alongside the rest of us.
Keith D. Moore
Founder of Open Government TV
http://www.opengovtv.com
202-449-7705
Very interesting, indeed. The stellar growth he achieved is directly attributed to his sense of gratitude, willingness to learn, and down to earth nature. In fact, many people can learn from him. No doubt he will grow to become a global celebrity shortly. He is rocking.