#Ferguson is everywhere: initiators in emerging counterpublic networks

May combine two claims.

The in-degree distribution in the #Ferguson network follows roughly a powerlaw, with a small number of nodes receiving a disproportionately high number of retweets and mentions, and most receiving none at all.

“Like most social networks, the in-degree distribution in the #Ferguson network follows roughly a powerlaw, with a small number of nodes receiving a disproportionately high number of retweets and mentions, and most receiving none at all (Barabási & Albert, 1999).”

• cites Barabási & Albert, 1999 sourcePartly supported

  The paper’s network discussion (page unavailable in our copy) reports a power-law tail for an actor collaboration network and says highly connected nodes can dominate connectivity. It does not examine the #Ferguson network, retweets or mentions, or establish that most nodes in that network receive none. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Anonymous released a widely retweeted video that demanded congressional action to introduce 'Mike Brown's law' to set national standards of police conduct and threatened to take offline every 'web-based asset' of police departments who responded to Ferguson protesters with force.

“The organization released a widely retweeted video that demanded congressional action to introduce something called 'Mike Brown's law ' to set national standards of police conduct and threatened to take offline every 'web-based asset' of police departments who responded to Ferguson protesters with force.”

May combine two claims.

While many individual activists were displaced by Anonymous in the network, some everyday citizens like @natedrug and @Nettaaaaaaaa remained elites alongside Anonymous.

“Notably, while many individual activists were displaced by Anonymous in the network, some everyday citizens like @natedrug and @Nettaaaaaaaa remained elites alongside Anonymous.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

@natedrug held a position as a crowdsourced elite for five of the seven days examined and was the most widely retweeted user in the network by a large margin.

“For example, @natedrug, tweeting directly from within the ranks of Ferguson protesters, held a position as a crowdsourced elite for five of the seven days examined here and was the most widely re-tweeted user in the network by a large margin.”

May combine two claims.

Many of the initiators were tweeting within minutes or hours of Michael Brown's death, giving them a distinct role in the emergence of the overall network topology and discourse.

“Many of these initiators were tweeting within minutes or hours of Michael Brown's death, giving them a distinct role in the emergence of the overall network topology and discourse.”

May combine two claims.

Mentions in these networks are often used to endorse specific members of the counterpublic and encourage others to follow them, or to gain the attention of those in traditional positions of power by associating their Twitter names with the events in Ferguson.

“Specifically, mentions in these networks are often used to endorse specific members of the counterpublic and encourage others to follow them, or to gain the attention of those in traditional positions of power by associating their Twitter names with the events in Ferguson.”

May combine two claims.

The overall Ferguson topology emerges primarily as a function of retweets, with crowdsourced elites receiving nearly three times as many retweets as mentions (14.71% of total tweets are retweets, 5.60% are mentions).

“This overall Ferguson topology emerges primarily as a function of retweets, with crowdsourced elites receiving nearly three times as many retweets as mentions(14.71% of total tweets are retweets, 5.60% are mentions).”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The discourse of @AyoMissDarkSkin's tweet immediately frames Brown as the innocent ('unarmed' 'boy') victim of extreme violence ('executed' 'Shot him 10 times') and communicates an affective response ('smh').

“The discourse of this tweet immediately frames Brown as the innocent ('unarmed' 'boy') victim of extreme violence ('executed' 'Shot him 10 times') and communicates an effective response ('smh'-Shaking My Head -generally used to indicate disgust or incredulousness).”

May combine two claims.

@Nettaaaaaaaa was a crowdsourced elite for three days and was also among the most widely retweeted.

“@Nettaaaaaaaa, a St. Louis-based college student, was a crowdsourced elite for three days and was also among the most widely retweeted.”

May combine two claims.

@AyoMissDarkSkin's tweet was retweeted or mentioned three and a half times more on this first day than @stltoday's tweet, demonstrating a clear preference by the networked public initially engaging with the story for a form of citizen journalism that acknowledged the problem of police violence and humanized its victims.

“Notably, @AyoMissDarkSkin's tweet was retweeted or mentioned three and a half times more on this first day than @stltoday's tweet, demonstrating a clear preference by the networked public initially engaging with the story for a form of citizen journalism that acknowledged the problem of police violence and humanized its victims.”

May combine two claims.

The balance of retweets versus mentions declines throughout the week following Michael Brown's death, with the lowest proportion of retweets (most mentions) on 13 August, when clashes between police and protesters became especially violent.

“As Table 2 illustrates, the balance of retweets versus mentions declines throughout the week following Michael Brown's death, with the lowest proportion of retweets (most mentions) on 13 August, when clashes between police and protesters became especially violent.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

On 11 August 2014, Anonymous launched a successful cyber-attack that took the City of Ferguson website, email servers and phone system offline for several hours.

“on11 August 2014, Anonymous launched a successful cyber-attack that took the City of Ferguson website, email servers and phone system offline for several hours.”

May combine two claims.

@AyoMissDarkSkin is an everyday citizen with a modest number of Twitter followers and no elite connections, yet had the most influence in the network, while French, Taylor, Tef Poe, and Skolnik have varying levels of access to niche, alternative, and mainstream spaces.

“@AyoMissDarkSkin is an everyday citizen with a modest number of Twitter followers and no elite connections, yet had the most influence in the network, while French, Taylor, Tef Poe, and Skolnik have varying levels of access to niche, alternative, and mainstream spaces.”

May combine two claims.

A post-hoc analysis of the top 100 crowdsourced elites across the dataset as a whole reveals no users with stated pro-police or anti-activist agendas; many of these users include explicit racial justice messages in their profile text and/or photos.

“Indeed, a post-hoc analysis of the top 100 crowdsourced elites across the dataset as a whole reveals no users with stated pro-police or anti-activist agendas; indeed, many of these users include explicit racial justice messages in their profile text and/or photos.”

May combine two claims.

The ideological work of discourse within the Ferguson network is remarkably consistent, and overwhelmingly focused on critiques of state violence.

“As discussed below, the ideological work of discourse within the Ferguson network is remarkably consistent, and overwhelmingly focused on critiques of state violence.”

May combine two claims.

In the first hours and day of tweeting about Brown's death, Ferguson was not ubiquitously used as a hashtag; the very first, and thus most central, tweets about Brown's killing did not hashtag the city.

“In the first hours and day of tweeting about Brown's death, Ferguson was not ubiquitously used as a hashtag; in fact, our preliminary data suggested that the very first, and thus most central, tweets about Brown's killing did not hashtag the city.”

May combine two claims.

@AyoMissDarkSkin was in the Ferguson neighborhood where Michael Brown was shot and sent the tweet seen in Figure 2 within 30 minutes of the altercation.

“@AyoMissDarkSkin was in the Ferguson neighborhood where Michael Brown was shot and sent the tweet seen in Figure 2 within 30 minutes of the altercation:”

May combine two claims.

Taylor rewrote the @stltoday headline with the word 'crowd' in place of 'mob' and corrected tweets calling Brown a 'man' with 'he was 17'.

“Likewise, Taylor rewrote the @stltoday headline with the word 'crowd' in place of 'mob' and corrected tweets calling Brown a 'man' with 'he was 17' 6”

The quote only partly states this claim.

The aggregate Ferguson Twitter network included 305,269 unique nodes connected by 425,746 directed links.

“In aggregate, these seven networks included 305,269 unique nodes (Twitter users) connected by 425,746 links, directed such that links originate from authors of tweets to users mentioned or retweeted in the text of those tweets.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

@stltoday's tweet not only lacks the affective response to the killing of an unarmed teen seen in @AyoMissDarkSkin's discourse, its structure and word choice construct the 'mob reaction' rather than Brown's shooting as the source of conflict.

“@stltoday's tweet not only lacks the affective response to the killing of an unarmed teen seen in @AyoMissDarkSkin's discourse, its structure and word choice construct the 'mob reaction' rather than Brown's shooting as the source of conflict.”

May combine two claims.

Differences in amplification strategy (retweeting, mentioning) as well as the shift from marginalized to mainstream elites become evident only by looking at the network change day by day; key counterpublic elites and amplification through mentioning are not evident in the aggregate network.

“Importantly, these differences in amplification strategy (retweeting, mentioning) as well as the shift from marginalized to mainstream elites become evident only by looking at the network change day by day; key counterpublic elites and amplification through mentioning are not evident in the aggregate network.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The account @OpFerguson was wholly dedicated to tweeting about ongoing events and relevant figures in Ferguson and gained infamy for threatening to dox every member of the Ferguson Police Department.

“For example, the account @OpFerguson was wholly dedicated to tweeting about ongoing events and relevant figures in Ferguson and gained infamy for threatening to dox 10 every member of the Ferguson Police Department.”

May combine two claims.

Our data spotlight the discursive labor of initiators and other influential everyday citizens, most of whom were young and/or African-American, who pushed the larger public sphere to address what happened to Michael Brown and offered ideological interpretations of Brown's death and resulting events firmly situated in minority experiences with state oppression.

“In particular, our data spotlight the discursive labor of initiators and other influential everyday citizens, most of whom were young and/or African-American, who pushed the larger public sphere to address what happened to Michael Brown and offered ideological interpretations of Brown's death and resulting events firmly situated in minority experiences with state oppression.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

Only the account of Global Grind (@GlobalGrind) appeared as an influential alternative media source among Ferguson crowdsourced elites, and then only for one day, 10 August.

“Only the account of Global Grind (@GlobalGrind), the Hip Hop-centric entertainment and news website for which Michael Skolnik is political director, appeared as an influential alternative media source, and then only for one day, 10 August.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

The Twitter account for the St. Louis Post Dispatch was among the day one initiators of the Ferguson network, although its discursive contributions were starkly different than those of other initiators.

“As previously noted, the Twitter account for the St. Louis Post Dispatch was among the day one initiators of the Ferguson network, although its discursive contributions were starkly different than those of other initiators.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

This group of national journalists skews young (three in their 20s and one in her 30s) and is markedly more diverse, including women and African-Americans in equal proportion to men and White Americans, than most American newsrooms.

“This group of journalists skews young (three in their 20s and one in her 30s), and is markedly more diverse, including women and African-Americans in equal proportion to men and White Americans, than most American newsrooms.”

May combine two claims.

John Legend maintained his position as an influencer for one day and Wil Wheaton, who has a particularly large Twitter following, for two days.

“Legend only maintained his position as an influencer for one day and Wheaton, who has a particularly large twitter following, for two days.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

The only politicians' Twitter handles to appear as crowdsourced elites, both fairly late in the week, were those of Barack Obama and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, neither of whom appeared because they tweeted about Ferguson but rather because so many Twitter users were tweeting at them (mentioning) with various pleas and criticism about the events unfolding there.

“In fact, the only politicians' twitter handles to appear, both fairly late in the week, were those of Barack Obama and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, neither of whom appeared because they tweeted about Ferguson but rather because so many Twitter users were tweeting at them (mentioning) with various Pleas and criticism about the events unfolding there.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

Local news outlets like @ksdknews, @KMOV, and @Fox2now provided a range of on-the-ground coverage of developments in Ferguson but were most retweeted by the network when they reported information about the scale of police response to protesters, the confirmed hacking of the City of Ferguson by Anonymous, demands by police that media leave the scene, and the potential that the Ferguson PD would释放e?

“First, local news outlets, like @ksdknews, @KMOV, and @Fox2now which represent NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates, respectively, provided a range of on the ground coverage of various developments in Ferguson but were most retweeted by the network when they reported information about the scale of police response to protesters”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

On the day after 9 August 2014, no media outlets appeared at crowdsourced elites, but beginning on 11 August and for the remainder of the week, at least two local news outlets or select individual mainstream journalists' accounts did.

“The following day, no media outlets appeared at crowdsourced elites but beginning on 11 August and for the remainder of the week, at least two local news outlets or select individual mainstream journalists' accounts did.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

Although both Lowery and Reilly received a number of retweets on specific days, the primary action resulting in their inclusion as crowdsourced elites for the entirety of the week is mentions, as members of the network used mentioning to direct attention to their arrests.

“Although both Lowery and Reilly received a number of retweets on specific days, the primary action resulting in their inclusion as crowdsourced elites for the entirety of the week is mentions, as members of the network used mentioning to direct attention to their arrests.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

Both celebrities specifically offered critiques of institutional failings around Ferguson, Legend focusing on the militarization and over reaction of police and Wheaton criticizing the national media for paying more attention to celebrity news than the events unfolding there.

“Both these celebrities specifically offered critiques of institutional failings around Ferguson, Legend focusing on the militarization and over reaction of police and Wheaton criticizing the national media for paying more attention to celebrity news than the events unfolding there.”

May combine two claims.

National mainstream news organizations played a minimal role among Ferguson crowdsourced elites, with only CNN gaining elite status on the last day of the first week of the network.

“National mainstream news organizations also played a minimal role among Ferguson crowdsourced elites, only one, CNN, gaining elite status on the last day of the first week of the network.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

The black press and other communicative spaces of the black public sphere pushed for the ideological and physical integration of mainstream institutions, while also challenging white supremacy and the legitimization of white racial violence common in mainstream discourse.

“The black press, and other communicative spaces of the black public sphere, pushed for the ideological and physical integration of mainstream institutions, while also challenging white supremacy and the legitimization of white racial violence common in mainstream discourse.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Networked publics' fusing of activist discourse with traditional news narratives results in an 'affective' flow of information that can speak to the common experiences, concerns, and sympathies of larger publics.

“In particular, networked publics' fusing of activist discourse with traditional news narratives results in an 'affective' flow of information that can speak to the common experiences, concerns, and sympathies of larger publics.”

• cites Papacharissi and de Fatima Oliveira (2012) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Twitter can provide a continuous stream of information from the perspective of those closest to crisis events.

“Unlike traditional modes of news reporting and information sharing, they argue, Twitter can provide a continuous stream of information from the perspective of those closest to crisis events.”

• cites Papacharissi and de Fatima Oliveira (2012) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Such flows of information provide a form of emotional release that simultaneously invigorates and exhausts tension in times of social crisis.

“Papacharissi and de Fatima Oliveira contend that such flows of information 'provide a form of emotional release that simultaneously invigorates and exhausts tension' in times of social crisis (p.280).”

• cites Papacharissi and de Fatima Oliveira (2012) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

After receiving a small amount of local media coverage, Trayvon Martin's story garnered increased attention both because of the strategic targeting of offline/traditional news sources by Martin family representatives, and the online advocacy of several African-American and racial justice organizations.

“Graeff, Stempeck, and Zuckerman (2014) find that after receiving a small amount of local media coverage, Martin's story garnered increased attention both because of the strategic targeting of offline/ traditional news sources by Martin family representatives, and the online advocacy of several African-American and racial justice organizations.”

• cites Graeff, Stempeck, and Zuckerman (2014) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

This early group of initiators played a particularly important role in gaining broader attention and support for objections to SOPA-PIPA legislation, motivating the engagement of more traditional elites, and shaping the terms of debate.

“This early group of what we consider 'initiators' played a particularly important role in gaining broader attention and support for objections to SOPA-PIPA legislation, motivating the engagement of more traditional elites, and shaping the terms of debate.”

• cites Benkler et al. (2013)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

The retweet topology is consistent with prior work on networked counterpublics, as well as online social movements more generally.

“This retweet topology is consistent with prior work on networked counterpublics, as well as online social movements more generally (Jackson & Foucault Welles, in press).”

• cites Jackson & Foucault Welles, in pressNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Retweets tend to represent ideological endorsements, while mentions more often represent ideological opposition.

“Retweets and mentions can serve different communicative purposes on Twitter with distinct ideological implications; in particular, Conover et al. (2011) have suggested that retweets tend to represent ideological endorsements, while mentions more often represent ideological opposition.”

• cites Conover et al. (2011) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Young people and people of color are using new media to draw attention to issues related to inequality and injustice more than ever before.

“The author observes that young people and people of color (and in America, young people are increasingly people of color) are using new media to draw attention to issues related to inequality and injustice more than ever before.”

• cites Wardell (2014)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Mentioning in the Ferguson network, especially the shift toward more mentioning as the week progresses, appears to correspond with a shift in emergent strategy from amplifying the messages of select counterpublic elites toward (1) requests for help from mainstream elites, and (2) efforts to focus attention on notable members of the counterpublic.

“Rather than ideological opposition, mentioning in the Ferguson network, especially the shift toward more mentioning as the week progresses, appears to correspond with a shift in emergent strategy from amplifying the messages of select counterpublic elites toward (1) requests for help from mainstream elites, and (2) efforts to focus attention on notable members of the counterpublic.”

May combine two claims.

In the #myNYPD hijacking, traditional elites were completely absent from top crowdsourced elites, measured in terms of the most frequently retweeted or mentioned accounts, yet the hijacking received local and national coverage in a variety of mainstream outlets.

“Further, traditional elites were completely absent from top crowdsourced elites, measured in terms of the most frequently retweeted or mentioned (but usually retweeted) accounts, yet the hijacking received local and national coverage in a variety of mainstream outlets.”

• cites Jackson & Foucault Welles, in pressNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Broadcast networks signal an intentional spreading of information, with crowdsourced elites serving as opinion leaders and the rest of the network amplifying their messages.

“Broadcast networks signal an intentional spreading of information, with crowdsourced elites serving as opinion leaders and the rest of the network amplifying their messages.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Media controversies interrupt traditional media gatekeeping and create unique space for the inclusion of citizen and alternatively created information.

“Graeff and colleagues argue then that media controversies (and it seems nothing is more controversial in American media than racial conflict) interrupt traditional media gatekeeping and create unique space for the inclusion of citizen and alternatively created information.”

• cites Graeff et al.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Anonymous's discourse seethed with indignation about police violence and state suppression and provided network members an illustration of what their individual anger and sense of immediacy channeled into collective outrage and digital civil disobedience might look and sound like.

“This discourse seethed with indignation about police violence and state suppression and provided members of the network an illustration of what their individual anger and sense of immediacy channeled into collective outrage and digital civil disobedience might look and sound like.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Crowdsourced elites are a hodgepodge of actors who became prominent network influencers because of how their storytelling during the Egyptian revolution resonated with their networks and the resulting reply and retweet networks, elevating regular citizens to the same status as more traditional information sources.

“They identify crowdsourced elites as a hodgepodge of actors who became prominent network influencers because of how their storytelling during the Egyptian revolution resonated with their networks and the resulting reply and retweet networks -elevating regular citizens to the same status as more traditional information sources.”

• cites Papacharissi and de Fatima Oliveira (2012) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Racialized hashtags come from within, and spread through, particular communities, allowing Twitter users, regardless of their own racial identities, to join in the 'assemblages' of antiracist discourse.

“Sharma's exploration of networked subjects is particularly relevant to networked counterpublics, in that he details the way racialized hashtags come from within, and spread through, particular communities, allowing twitter users, regardless of their own racial identities, to join in the 'assemblages' of antiracist discourse.”

• cites Sharma (2013) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

These phenomena reflect the importance of both connectedness and discourse within the network.

“We suggest that these phenomena reflect the importance of both connectedness and is course within the network.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

These organizations contributed influential frames to mainstream coverage of Martin's story and facilitated traditional activism via digital spaces.

“These organizations contributed influential frames to mainstream coverage of Martin's story and facilitated traditional activism via digital spaces.”

• cites Graeff, Stempeck, and Zuckerman (2014) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Online activism, particularly that utilizing Twitter, YouTube, and other social network sites, often starts within small, densely connected networks but spreads because of the amplification of a broader public that includes people of similar identities with similar experiences of marginalization.

“Wardell contends that online activism, particularly that utilizing Twitter, YouTube, and other social network sites, often starts within small, densely connected networks but spreads because of the amplification of a broader public that includes people of similar identities with similar experiences of marginalization.”

• cites Wardell (2014)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

In the SOPA-PIPA debate, a highly committed group of actors engaged early and continued to play a leadership role throughout the controversy, pushing the later entry of larger players.

“For example, in their network analysis of the SOPA-PIPA debate, Benkler et al. (2013) identify 'a highly committed group of actors that engaged early in the debate and continue to play a leadership role throughout the controversy' pushing the later 'entry of larger players' (39).”

• cites Benkler et al. (2013)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Users seeking to amplify the events in Ferguson were much more likely to find (and retweet) @AyoMissDarkSkin than @stltoday or anyone else, thereby amplifying the discourse of the marginalized public over mainstream framing.

“Consistent with Lin, Margolin, and Lazer's (2015) findings on satisficing political searches, users seeking to amplify the events in Ferguson were much more likely to find (and retweet) @AyoMissDarkSkin than @stltoday or anyone else, thereby amplifying the discourse of the marginalized public over mainstream framing.”

• cites Lin, Margolin, and Lazer's (2015)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

The technological architecture of Twitter becomes an important tool for subverting traditional citizen-state power structures, enabling counterpublics to drive national conversations.

“To that end, the technological architecture of Twitter becomes an important tool for subverting traditional citizen-state power structures, enabling counterpublics to drive national conversations.”

May combine two claims.

This research specifically illustrates that it is possible not only for those with a set of niche expertise or activist experience and connections to significantly infiltrate public debates but also for individual members of highly marginalized counter publics to do so.

“However, this research specifically illustrates that it is possible not only for those with a set of niche expertise or activist experience and connections to significantly infiltrate public debates but also for individual members of highly marginalized counter publics to do so.”

May combine two claims.

The selection of which tweets from mainstream outlets and which mainstream journalists were spread (retweeted) and engaged with (mentioned) reflects an intentional focus by the network on highlighting evidence of state abuse, a focus that aligns with the counterpublic narratives initiated and maintained by everyday citizens.

“Rather, the selection of which tweets from mainstream outlets and which mainstream journalists were spread (retweeted) and engaged with (mentioned), reflects an intentional focus by the network on highlighting evidence of state abuse -a focus that aligns with the counterpublic narratives initiated and maintained by everyday citizens.”

May combine two claims.

In this case, African-Americans, women, and young people, including several members of Michael Brown's working-class, African-American community, were particularly influential and succeeded in defining the terms of debate despite their historical exclusion from the American public sphere.

“In this case, African-Americans, women, and young people, including several members of Michael Brown's working-class, African-American community, were particularly influential and succeeded in defining the terms of debate despite their historical exclusion from the American public sphere.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

May combine two claims.

While traditional elites, including mainstream news sources and high-level politicians, eventually achieve elite status in the Ferguson network, it is only through close examination of when and how they become crowdsourced elites that we can see their presence is a function of counterpublic strategy, and not reflective of a shift in power.

“While traditional elites, including mainstream news sources and high-level politicians eventually achieve elite status in the Ferguson network, it is only through close examination of when and how they become crowdsourced elites that we can see their presence is a function of counterpublic strategy, and not reflective of a shift in power.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Crowdsourced elite status (being retweeted or mentioned) is a valid indicator of influence in the Ferguson network.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Investigating solely the Ferguson network topology or the discursive content of the tweets misses the critical intersection of structure and meaning; the networked counterpublic comes to life only through a close reading of the tweets spread through the particular network structure.

“Investigating solely the Ferguson network topology or the discursive content of the tweets misses the critical intersection of structure and meaning; the networked counterpublic comes to life only through a close reading of the tweets spread through the particular network structure.”

May combine two claims.

Both @Nettaaaaaaaa and @AyoMissDarkSkin are young, black women whose voices played an important role in moving conversations about Brown's death into broader spaces.

“Both these users are young, black women whose voices played an important role in moving conversations about Brown's death into broader spaces.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

This highlights democratic potentials within the networked public sphere, particularly vis-à-vis the discursive labor of members of American counterpublics willing to contribute collective knowledge and critiques to the process of making sense of community crisis.

“This highlights democratic potentials within the networked public sphere, particularly vis-à-vis the discursive labor of members of American counterpublics willing to contribute collective knowledge and critiques to the process of making sense of community crisis.”