TV networks tell staff to watch their tweets on US Election Day

TOO CLOSE TO CALL: Romney speaking at a campaign rally in Painesville, Ohio. The closeness of this year’s election between Obama and Romney has focused attention on key battleground states — such as Ohio, Virginia and Florida — and what their exit polls might signal about who will win the White House. — Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Television networks face a new challenge in covering this year’s excruciatingly close US Presidential election: Prevent closely guarded exit poll results from leaking onto Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

The major TV news networks agreed to shield early exit poll data suggesting who is leading in a state until the state’s polls close. That means no tweeting exit polls, posting on Facebook, or re-tweeting figures reported by others.