In the race to provide news worthy of the "new", Twitter beat the New York Times again. Sure, "again". What's noteworthy in this story is that the event in question literally happened outside the Times' window. (My own tweetpic, from around 9am: http://twitpic.com/ip30w)

This morning police and police tape were all over the Manhattan Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT). Police and intercoms made it clear, "You may exit the first door you find, the 9th Ave exits are open, there are many other ways into the subway, outside this building." Whole areas-- the shopping arcade and breakfast spots, escalators, and hallways-- were cordoned off. A plainclothes supervisor answered me with, "It's an ongoing police investigation."

Into a tunnel-like hallway out of the building. Like several others, I brought out a mobile phone and started tapping. For me, a tweet. About to send, I exited the building and saw an array of police cars with all lights flashing. So I took a picture and posted that with the tweet (thanks Tweetie on iPhone!).

Then I turned a corner towards Penn Station and looked for an alternate blue line station. Looking up at the crosswalk, I noticed video cameras on the ground and the NY Times building looking over it all.

Thanks to the NYPD and MTA, I was soon comfy in my office with desktop Internet. I went to the NY Times for the scoop and... nothing. Check this picture out, from 9:45am today-- nothing at all, not even a strapline, "We know the cops are freaking right outside the window, something will come soon." Nothing.

Luckily a Twitter was there and the crowd sourced scoop under the NY Times' own window. Sure, it's not proofed or corroborated. There's some vulgarity and a few of the avatars are more Post Page 6 than Times competition. But Twitter yielded news when it was new.

If the Times is "new"s, then it is in trouble. Should the Times be that? Or should the Times be recent history, maybe using a new tagline like "What really happened in the last 12 hours"? I hope we find out the answer before I lose interest and move on to a different source of record.