Remember the days when we used to receive news and valuable information by reading
newspapers, watching television, or listening to the radio? (Did I just age myself?) Luckily,
technology has changed that forever. We are now accustomed to using social media. Social
media has not only changed how humans communicate, but it had changed how they
receive valuable content like the news. And no two social media sites have done this more
than Facebook and Twitter. When social media first started getting popular, it was just a
way to communicate and keep in touch. Now, it is being used even more in professional
settings.
According to Pew Research, Sixty-three percent of Facebook and Twitter users said they get news on the social networks. That’s an increase from 52% of Twitter users and 47% of Facebook users who told Pew in 2013 that they use each platform to consume news.
Journalists need to understand the importance of utilizing these platforms to
spread news and valuable information.
Why? There are a variety of reasons that there has been this shift.
1. Dominance: Facebook and Twitter are more popular than traditional news outlets
2. Convenience: Technology has changed how society gets information. With Facebook and Twitter, content can be easily viewed on a smart phone or mobile device.
3. Gateway Drug?: Facebook and Twitter are pathways to news. It is also easy to view news and other important content without leaving the networks.
4. Sharing is Caring: Facebook and Twitter make it easy to share content, and see shared content from friends and family.
What does this mean?
It means that if you are a journalist or member of the media, it is extremely important to understand how to use Facebook and Twitter to your advantage… If you want to be successful.
“Exploring how news consumption through social media can shape how people interact with, respond, and react to the news will be critical for news providers and others interested in advancing the real-world impact of journalism.”
Lichterman, J. (2015, July 14). New Pew data: More Americans are getting news on Facebook and Twitter. Retrieved from http://www.niemanlab.org/2015/07/new-pew-data-more-americans-are-getting-news-on-facebook-and-twitter/
Mitchell, A., Rosenteil, T., Christian, L. (2012) What Facebook and Twitter mean for news. Retrieved from http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2012/mobile-devices-and-news-consumption-some-good-signs-for-journalism/what-facebook-and-twitter-mean-for-news/
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