Social Media and Journalism
Social media can be a positive component in today’s world of journalism.
For the last decade, social media has been a ubiquitous force around the world. People from all demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds are able to connect and interact via the internet. While many see social media as a hinderance on human interaction, those with a knack for adaptation have been able to use it as an advantage. With professional grade photo and video technology in most modern mobile devices, anyone can report the news. This type of news reporting can lead to a legitimate — and oftentimes lucrative — career in journalism.
Entrepreneurs such as Angelica Nwandu can find great success in the benefits of social media. The Shade Room was initially supposed to be a celebrity gossip blog, but as popularity gained momentum, so did the possibilities. Nwandu used her love for writing to create a media company for those in search of gritty celebrity gossip, as well as those seeking news stories of more substance. What started as a goal of 10,000 nosey followers, has turned into a media platform recognized worldwide for its growth and evolution.
Because of social media, Nwandu already had a following of 20M when she decided to start The Shade Room Investigates. This new innovation allowed Nwandu to grow her business, as well as add news broadcasting to her company. This new growth allowed Nwandu to hire professional news reporters, such as Emmy-winner Justin Carter in the above news story. Without social media, this wouldn’t have been possible.
Social media provides many benefits, one of them being convenience. Once The Shade Room started news broadcasting, they were able to create awareness for it by posting links to breaking stories via social media. Each of their 21M+ followers were able to follow every story no matter where they were at; social media made it easy and convenient to get instant news at the click (or tap) of a button.
In addition to celebrity gossip and news stories, The Shade Room was also able to start a digital talk show due to its rising popularity. Like talk shows aired on TV, the host interviews guests throughout all walks of life — more often than not, they’re celebrities. This, combined with the many different facets of The Shade room, is a testament to the positive relationship between social media and journalism.
In conclusion, it is important to utilize every resource available when reporting the news, including social media. I’m no expert, but I am willing to bet that a large number of stubborn reporters have missed out on breaking stories and valuable information due to their indifference toward social media. Sometimes social media and journalism can create a symbiotic relationship. While I am aware of the downside to social media when it comes to reporting, it is my job as a journalist to do my due diligence as it pertains to fact checking and ethically reporting the news. In this ever-evolving world of technology, it is imperative to stay current with the times — maybe even ahead of them.