Journalism and Social Media

The profession of journalism has been significantly impacted by the emergence of digital technology. News has become more democratized by the fact that it can be shared by nearly everyone on social media. Therefore, journalists have to work much harder in order to support their organization and have their news story break through.

The specific demands of online news also have changed the way modern journalists work. Although the Internet and social media made it easier for journalists to research and report their stories, many are now expected to write a story, shoot still pictures or video, and then edit their work for multiple media platforms. (Weaver, Willnat, & Wilhoit, 2019)

In recent years, journalists have had to learn new technology quickly, and that can result in burnout. Since many journalists work independently, they are left to their own devices to learn new technology and pay for their own resources.

While there are many journalists struggling with the new technology, there are those who are having a much more positive reaction to the changes. For example, nearly 60% of journalists make use of social media to research new story ideas or find sources (Weaver, et. al, 2019).

(The Atlantic, 2014)

References

The Atlantic. (2014, August 8). How Is Social Media Changing Journalism? [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7esKJDZqzQ

Weaver, D. H., Willnat, L., & Wilhoit, G. C. (2019). The American Journalist in the Digital Age: Another Look at U.S. News People. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 96(1), 101–130. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1177/1077699018778242