It’s no surprise that Social Media has had an impact on the
way we view, obtain, and distribute news. While it has many advantages and
disadvantages that it can bring to the news industry, it’s important to embrace
these changes and make the best of the situation in order to enhance it rather
than impair it.
In 2010, almost 40% of Internet users contributed to creating news content. It’s safe to assume that number has drastically increased over the last 4 years as social media is on the rise. Many news stations and networks have embraced user-generated news and even created programs where users who have experienced an event first hand are able to submit content such as photos, videos, and statements. (CTV has ‘My News’, CNN - ‘iReport’, National Post makes use of hashtags for a variety of issues where users can submit related photos. The list goes on), While the quality of the content as well isn’t always the best in terms of skill levels, the content allows viewers to really understand what the situation was like to see photos and videos from someone who experienced it first hand.
Social media has also made it possible for news to travel much faster and reach a wider audience People who normally wouldn’t pick up a newspaper are hearing about issues that they wouldn’t otherwise. It has aided in getting stories out where media coverage is limited, (IE the Ferguson riots when a media ban was in place) which can increase the quality of the news.
However citizen journalism still can decrease the quality of news to a degree. Inaccurate information is more likely to be published, and content may be too controversial or disturbing for some readers as it is hard to monitor everything that is put on the Internet. Privacy can also be violated or sometimes and not every user is educated in privacy or copyright laws. It's important to use judgment with what you're reading.
Regardless, I feel overall social media has enhanced the news. It allows for a wider range of audiences, distributes the news quickly and effectively directly from the source to the viewer. It has allowed people to feel as thought they are right there experiencing the event and has enabled the community to get involved and share their story – and isn’t that one of the main objectives of the news anyways?
Links & Resources for this topic:
Roy Morejon: Social Media & The News: An Infographic
ING: 2014 Study - The Impact of Social Media on the News
Mashable: How Social Media is Taking over the News Industry
Twitter Blog: Twitter is Taking Over Breaking News Traffic
Journalism.org: News Use Across Social Media Platforms
Mashable: Breaking News Tweets That Change Twitter Forever
In 2010, almost 40% of Internet users contributed to creating news content. It’s safe to assume that number has drastically increased over the last 4 years as social media is on the rise. Many news stations and networks have embraced user-generated news and even created programs where users who have experienced an event first hand are able to submit content such as photos, videos, and statements. (CTV has ‘My News’, CNN - ‘iReport’, National Post makes use of hashtags for a variety of issues where users can submit related photos. The list goes on), While the quality of the content as well isn’t always the best in terms of skill levels, the content allows viewers to really understand what the situation was like to see photos and videos from someone who experienced it first hand.
Social media has also made it possible for news to travel much faster and reach a wider audience People who normally wouldn’t pick up a newspaper are hearing about issues that they wouldn’t otherwise. It has aided in getting stories out where media coverage is limited, (IE the Ferguson riots when a media ban was in place) which can increase the quality of the news.
However citizen journalism still can decrease the quality of news to a degree. Inaccurate information is more likely to be published, and content may be too controversial or disturbing for some readers as it is hard to monitor everything that is put on the Internet. Privacy can also be violated or sometimes and not every user is educated in privacy or copyright laws. It's important to use judgment with what you're reading.
Regardless, I feel overall social media has enhanced the news. It allows for a wider range of audiences, distributes the news quickly and effectively directly from the source to the viewer. It has allowed people to feel as thought they are right there experiencing the event and has enabled the community to get involved and share their story – and isn’t that one of the main objectives of the news anyways?
Links & Resources for this topic:
Roy Morejon: Social Media & The News: An Infographic
ING: 2014 Study - The Impact of Social Media on the News
Mashable: How Social Media is Taking over the News Industry
Twitter Blog: Twitter is Taking Over Breaking News Traffic
Journalism.org: News Use Across Social Media Platforms
Mashable: Breaking News Tweets That Change Twitter Forever
I loved your post. Great information and relevant photos to introduce facts and data. I agree with the ease of access of news and the efficiency of the delivery. You also touched on the point of a smartphone owner having the ability to take a video of live news and distribute the video feed via social media. That point is a delicate topic for me to have an opinion on.
ReplyDeleteNot only does it possibly put the user in danger, I believe that the concept of privacy is diminished to an exclusive concept. Where there is population, there is a smartphone with the ability to record your actions and sound. I strongly dislike the idea of users submitting videos of news and people because some situations, delicate censoring is needed. A good example is the harassment and media explosion of Rob Ford. Months after his crack cocaine scandal, the media is harassing his family and himself due to the recent exposure of a brain tumor discovery. Rob Ford has no control of the media and how they portray him and his family. Personally, I am disgusted with the media and their legally questionable harassment to Rob Ford and his family.
All in all, great post and great read. Keep it up!