On the cover of today's newspaper is a message inviting readers to sign up for Breaking News Alerts from The News Tribune so you can be "among the first to know" who will be tapped as running mates for Obama and McCain. What about all those people who already signed up for Obama's email or text alert for the same information?

I know several people locally who are signed up - including one who I'm certain is NOT voting for the Illinois senator in November - and it will be interesting to see whether they know the news before the news business knows the news.

Like most newsrooms on "Veepwatch" today, we're anxiously anticipating the announcement (so we know what will be leading our web site and newspaper). But instead of expecting the wires to break the news, we're expecting an individual in the room to receive a text or email from the Obama campaign with the news. If that happens, then any news consumer who signed up for the alert will truly be the first to know.

UPDATE: Yes, it worked. My wife woke up at 2 in the morning for some reason when she heard her phone beep. It was a text message with the Veepnews. So when I stirred about 40 minutes later, she told me the news and I got out of be and sent a breaking news alert from my iPhone.

UPDATE 2: Not exactly. The AP leak spoiled the party, but made for a fresh newspaper Saturday morning.