Journalism trends blog post: social media and journalism

With the introduction of smartphones and advanced technology, social media has left a major mark on the field of journalism.

In an article exploring the role of social media in journalism, the author discusses both the positive and negative impacts of social media on journalism. Media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are convenient tools for journalists because they provide up to date information at the writer’s fingertips. Alternatively, social media and online news is targeted toward an upper class audience who can afford the technology necessary to host the platforms.

Though social media can be used as a tool for journalists, it can also be a distraction. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter provide a constantly updating stream of information. Journalists will be sifting through useful information as well as posts for pure entertainment. It really depends on the writer’s ability to exercise self control with their media consumption.

Another article reporting the findings of a survey concluded that social media is very important to the modern journalist. Writers use social media to find potential leads, keep up with the competition and stay in touch with his or her audience. Though social media is used daily by journalists, those surveyed confessed that social media did not increase their productivity.

While social media can be used to find leads and information, it is not the only source for these things. Nor is it the most efficient form of research. Depending on the writer, social media can be used to boost productivity.

I personally believe that social media is a useful tool for journalists. As a Millennial, social media plays a large role in my daily life. I believe social media can be used by journalists in several ways:

• Because social media is my generation’s source of most information, it is an excellent platform for sharing and promoting news stories
• Not only do platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have websites, they also have phone applications, ensuring the audience has constant access to the news feed
• Shareability is a plus of using social media. Because the audience is able to share news stories, microblogs and photos, the journalist can easily build a following
• Social media is an interactive platform that promotes community among readers. By posting news stories to social media sites, readers are able to share their opinions and start conversations about the news stories
• Social media can add depth to news stories through the creative presentation provided through the media sites

Social media has both pros and cons for the journalist. Even as I write this post, I am distracted by the Facebook and Twitter tabs open on my laptop. While social applications are useful for finding information, building a following and sharing stories, they are also distracting for the writer. In my opinion, social media decreases the productivity of the writer.

Personally, I think the amount of social media sites is overwhelming. Journalists are already having to translate information from print to web. Having to write the same story for four or five different formats can be painful, but it also has a wider reach.