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PHILADELPHIA, April 12, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Gosnell “tweetfest” on Friday proved to be a massive success, inspiring critical reflections by liberal journalists, mainstream media coverage, and an unprecedented groundswell of citizen action aimed at breaking through a media blackout.

Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, more than 166,800 tweets had been posted on Twitter using the #Gosnell hashtag.

Pro-life organizations encouraged their followers to send tweets containing “#Gosnell” on Friday to encourage the mainstream media to cover the trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.

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Pro-life activists believe the story's grisly details of severed feet, barbarism, racism, and lack of government oversight would normally earn saturation coverage, if they did not cast abortion-on-demand in a negative light.

While most were from defenders of the unborn, some feminists, media figures – and even the Planned Parenthood Action Fund tweeted about Gosnell.

The activity impacted new and old media.

Self-described “pro-choice” reporter Megan McArdle wrote in the Daily Beast that she regretted not reporting on the “trial of the century.” Salon magazine insisted there was no blackout.

But the campaign had its intended effect.

Jake Tapper did the last segment of his CNN program The Lead on the capital murder trial. It lasted less than five minutes. The topic was scheduled to come up again Friday evening on Anderson Cooper 360.

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Political figures including a former Senator, two Congressmen, and a Republican presidential hopeful took part in the grassroots campaign.

Activism peaked at 11 a.m., when 23,600 messages contained those characters.