Mar 9, 2008 3:48 pm US/Central
Unruly Crowd Cuts Facebook.com CEO Interview Short
Anna Gonzalez, Web Producer
AUSTIN (CBS 11 News) ―
Twenty minutes before the keynote speaker at South By Southwest's Interactive Festival was about to speak, more than half of the auditorium was filled.
Thousands of people were waiting with anticipation to hear from Facebook.com CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Once the interview got underway, unfortunately, he seemed to be talking just as often as the interviewer.
Journalist Sarah Lacy, who conducted the interview, filled time by telling stories for Zuckerberg. She plugged her book, saying that's how she knew so much about him. She even announced for him that on Sunday night, Facebook.com will be launched in French.
About forty-five minutes into the interview, she finished another anecdote about Zuckerberg, to which he replied, 'Uh huh.'
Seeming to grow frustrated, she responded by saying she knew how Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes must feel when she can't get her interviewee to respond with more than two words.
To which Zuckerberg replied, "Well, if you would ask questions."
The crowd responded with a roaring applause, some even stood up and cheered.
The floor was then opened up to a question and answer period, which Lacy attempted to moderate. But the crowd already had it's voice and yelled out who they wanted to let ask a question next.
A young woman walking out of the auditorium told another woman she didn't get much out of the discussion. Walking through the hallways after the session, people were on their cell phones, sharing the same sentiment.
So what did Zuckerberg have to say -- even with all the interruptions? Check back for the next blog.
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