Who does Twitter bring together?

Try this: Harlem rappers, the Israeli Consulate, Al Jazeera, hyperactive rock-and-roll critics, mommy bloggers, a frustrated CNN anchor and a very, very ticked off co-host of the Today Show.

And that was just on the first day here at the 140 Characters Conference, the Twitter Love-In I get to hang out at, in New York City.

While the Twitterati has to wait until Wednesday to learn all about what we’re doing in Oklahoma with our 140 characters, Monday was reserved for one of the greatest panel discussions I’ve ever been lucky enough to witness.

Topic du jour was “Twitter as a news-gathering tool” with Rick Sanchez of CNN, probably the most social media-engaged member of the mainstream television media, along with the Today Show newsie Ann Curry.

Sanchez was there to defend his network against the criticism that bubbled up over the weekend when CNN failed to cover well enough (in the minds of some) the Iranian election.

What eventually got Sanchez and Curry riled up was the inevitable clash between journalism and commerce. Curry was unhappy with the clash between what she and others see as valuable and important coverage – in areas like Darfur – and what areas are doing to cut back costs and providing more of what drives ratings.

Another lively discussion was Sanchez’ defense of his use of social media and how he uses crowdsourcing. While other networks use social media in a trendy and gimmicky way, Sanchez feels like it helps to guide his show and gives him a brain trust that he had always ‘talked to’ instead of ‘talked with.’

"This is the first time that we are going to be able to connect with citizens that we, in the so-called mainstream media, will be able to pay attention to... who could be a reliable source aside from our talking heads… and happy-faced, really pretty anchors,” Sanchez said.

The crisis in journalism aside, he understands that Twitter is key on connections between the media companies which, even though they might not want to be, are driven by profit and their customers.

The users now have some say with what they get from the companies and now, through social media, have a bigger outlet to craft and criticize what gets done.

The power has shifted and Twitter has become a lever that can, with little effort from only a few, move much bigger mountains, even CNN, NBC.