The New York Times First Ever Sponsored Tweet

NYC The Blog has learned from a source with direct knowledge of the situation, of the very first 'Sponsored Tweet' transmitted over the transom on behalf of The New York Times, in an ad buy arranged The Times' ad agency, Morpheus.

'Sponsored Tweets' in the feeds of media outlets have just recently started to become common.

The Times' 'Sponsored Tweet' advertised 50% off home delivery, and appeared on February 16 in the Twitter feed of Fashionista.com, a first for both Fashionista and The Times. It was one of five The Times received that week, likely part of a larger ad buy.

Below, see The New York Times' very first 'Sponsored Tweet' in varying forms, perfect for the Library of Congress' new collection!

Print Media In New York City Embrace Advertisements Delivered Via Twitter

Last week NYCTB noticed 'Sponsored Tweets' in the Twitter feed of The New York Post, and Time Out New York.

Wondering aloud when this became practice, Twitter user Thomas Hinton (a photog at The Post is also named Thomas Hinton) responded via Twitter that The Post started 'Sponsored Tweets' just just week.

Though tweets as advertising are becoming common on celebrity Twitter feeds, we might be witnessing a new practice developing in the financially challenged print media industry.

Have you seen other print media providing 'Sponsored Tweets' in their feed?

Related: Thanks to a tip from a source with direct knowledge of the situation, NYCTB has located the very first 'Sponsored Tweet' purchased by The New York Times. Screengrabs will be posted in just a short while...perfect for the Library of Congress' new collection!

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The New York Times Purchasing Sponsored Tweets

After discovering Sponsored Tweets in the feed of @newyorkpost yesterday, and wondering aloud if other news orgs practices this, twitter user @samdawnpaul brought attention to this tweet from Time Out New York's twitter feed.

Interestingly enough, as seen above, it is a "Sponsored post" for The New York Times, offering 50% off subscriptions. It seems innocuous enough; one can imagine the use of them becoming common, without much fanfare. Though admittedly, there is something slightly sad and desperate about this particular "Sponsored post."

Maybe 'sponsored posts' in tweets of others, purchased by The New York Times (most likely included in an ad package), is out of the ordinary—like a warm thank you or emoticon on their Facebook page, too new and unfamiliar—ever so slightly unsettling.

Or maybe not, who knows? Sponsor tweets away!

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