Steps, missteps in Fort Hood shootings coverage

(All times central. For another look at what happened, try the Google news timeline view.)

1:30 p.m.

A gunman opens fire on soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas.

2:10 p.m.

MSNBC posts a story and sends a breaking news alert about the shooting. CNN did the same at 2:30 p.m. Original reports said seven people were killed and at least 12 were injured by at least two gunmen.

2:40 p.m.

The Austin American-Statesman creates a dedicated Twitter account, @fthoodshootings. (The account was briefly suspended, but is back. Ten hours later, it has more than 3,300 followers.)

3:45 p.m.

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone says the gunman — a soldier — was killed. He repeats several times that the gunman was killed. He also says a civilian police officer with the Fort Hood police was killed. (CNN incorrectly identifies Cone as a major general.)

4 to 5 p.m.

Trying to answer “why,” CNN seems to be blaming gangs while Fox News was focusing on terrorism.

5:30 p.m.

While AP other news agencies were reporting that the gunman was Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan, Fox News host Shepard Smith declined to name the gunman, but made references to his Arabic name in an interview with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas).

8:20 p.m.

At a news conference, Lt. Gen. Robert Cone say the gunman is not dead. He was shot at least four times, and is in stable condition. Cone also says the civilian police officer was not killed.

What else, good or bad, did you see in Thursday’s coverage?