Journalsim - SOCIAL MEDIA

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  • Course context: AC141-OL Introduction to Journalism, Professor Leopold; Chapter 3.
  • Contents overview: Introduction to how traditional and social media intersect; evolution of journalism in the social media era; definitions of key terms; impact, ethics, and practical guidelines for journalists using social media; case studies and discussion prompts.

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  • Timeline of modern social media platforms and their impact on journalism: many platforms emerged before 2010, but changes in journalism have accelerated in the last 5 years.
    • Early platforms and key years:
    • 2001: Friendster (early form of social networking, pre-Facebook)
    • 2002: LinkedIn founded (today more than 6.75 imes 10^8 users)
    • 2003: MySpace (by 2006, the most visited website on the planet)
    • 2004: Facebook launches (eclipses MySpace by 2008; today about 1.7 imes 10^9 users)
    • 2005: Reddit launches (today about 3.0 imes 10^8 users)
    • 2006: Twitter founded as a micro-blogging site
    • 2010: Instagram launches (purchased by Facebook in 2012; today about 1.0 imes 10^9 users)
    • 2010: Pinterest founded; more than 3.35 imes 10^8 active monthly users
    • 2011: Snapchat founded as a video-sharing service
    • 2016: TikTok launched; by 2020, more than 8.00 imes 10^8 users worldwide
  • Transformation of social media: from venues to keep up with friends to essential journalism tools for finding sources and sharing information with the public.
  • Key takeaway: Social media is now integral to journalism, especially for sourcing and public dissemination.

Page 3

  • Traditional media vs social media: two ecosystems with different roles.
    • Traditional media:
    • Embraces print, broadcast, and online forms of content.
    • Writers, editors, reporters are the creators; readers/viewers are receivers.
    • Carries authority, prestige, credibility, and accountability to be accurate and nonpartisan (fair).
    • Referred to as the Fourth Estate.
  • Social media role:
    • Web-based technologies enabling ordinary people to share content; audiences can be—or feel they are—contributors.
    • Important distinction: traditional media reports news; social media mainly provides a space for news to be spread (not a reporting mechanism).

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  • Historical concept of “Estates”: social hierarchies dating to the Middle Ages.
    • Tripartite system: oratores (priestly, those who pray), bellatores (military, those who fight), laboratores (laborers, those who work).
    • France under Ancien Régime: First Estate = clergy; Second Estate = nobility; Third Estate = peasants and bourgeoisie (middle class); sub-divisions within Third Estate (burghers, rural commoners); non-landowning poor excluded from political rights.
    • England: nobility and clergy formed a lordly estate; others were commoners, leading to Parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords).
  • Contemporary usage in the US: “three estates” refers to the three branches of government (legislature, executive, judiciary) plus the Fourth Estate for the press—outside the established power structure but with power to inform and question.

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  • Three estates in the US government:
    • Legislature: ext{Congress}
    • Executive: ext{White House}
    • Judiciary: ext{Courts}
  • The press as the Fourth Estate: exists outside the power structure but wields informational and accountability power.

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  • Historical note: Thomas Carlyle coinage in 1840, referencing Burke’s Estates in parliament and the rise of the Fourth Estate in the reporters’ gallery.

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  • Contrast: social media vs traditional media.
    • Social media allows ordinary people to be contributors; traditional media recipients are passive.
    • Important caveat: social media does not report news itself; it provides a platform for news dissemination.

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  • Power shift: rise of user-generated content shifts influence from publishers/editors/professional reporters to the masses, regardless of expertise.
  • Question raised: how did this happen? (further discussion in subsequent slides).

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  • Societal shifts driving intersection of journalism and social media:
    1) Desktop-to-mobile transition (laptop/desktop to mobile devices).
    2) Smartphones expand capabilities (mobile cameras, apps).
    3) High-speed wireless access becomes more available in homes, businesses, and public spaces.

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  • Mobility and commerce: mobile apps enable communities to travel with users; businesses leverage this mobility, fueling the rise of ecommerce.

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  • Smartphone revolution (in 2007) liberated social media from desktops/laptops, enabling platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and others to thrive in mobile app environments.

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  • Visual shift in mobile apps: more powerful in-phone cameras shift focus to video and images; real-time broadcasting becomes possible beyond text.
  • Instagram becomes a go-to app for visually oriented topics (travel, entertainment, fashion, etc.).

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  • Centennial Panel at Medill School of Journalism (February 2022) on social media’s impact on journalism:
    • 79.3\% participants said social media has a mostly negative impact on journalism.
    • 94.3\% blamed social media for spreading inaccurate news, reflecting poorly on journalism professionals.

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  • Acknowledgment of pros and cons: social media affects journalism; it is a fact of life.
  • Next steps: examine how social media impacts professional journalism.

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  • Clear distinction: social media is not journalism; it is a tool journalists can use to work more effectively and efficiently.

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  • Analogies for tools: Gutenberg’s printing press (invented 1436) and the typewriter (patented 1868; last company in India shut in 2011) illustrate that technology is a tool, not the journalism itself.

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  • Key definitions:
    • News: what happened or is happening.
    • Journalism: the process of telling you what happened.
    • Social media: the megaphone—the way the news spreads.
  • A more cynical view: news consists of events deemed important by journalists for their audience.

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  • Social media as audience-driven: the audience decides what is important, which may diverge from journalists’ views.
  • With smartphones and photo sharing plus Facebook’s influence on distribution, some argue that news is what people capture and share, potentially without journalists.
  • Debate: this can be viewed as shallow or dangerous for society; some question whether this is an advancement.

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  • Working definitions: NEWS comprises events worth telling; JOURNALISM is reporting those events, providing context and narrative; SOCIAL MEDIA are online networks for connection and sometimes sharing news.
  • Relationship:News, journalism, and social media are distinct but related.

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  • Journalism adds depth: asks why, who, what does it mean, what are the effects, reactions from people/governments.
  • Social media’s dramatic impact: broadens the reactions pool beyond traditional “man on the street” interviews.

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  • Eyewitness accounts and geographic balance: social media enables eyewitness accounts from distant or dangerous locations and helps balance geography by collecting inputs from various regions.

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  • Negative effect: erosion of trust in MSM (mainstream media).
  • Issue: many rely on social media as a primary news source and encounter unsubstantiated assertions, conspiracy theories, distortions, hate, election interference, etc.

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  • Consequence of lack of fact-checking and gatekeeping: misinformation travels instantly and widely; studies show it travels faster and farther than accurate facts.

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  • Public perception: misinformation makes people distrust professional journalism; some outlets and journalists still strive to report responsibly and ethically, though not all succeed.

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  • Citizen journalism: not true journalism—ordinary people post firsthand accounts; can be valuable and important as eyewitnesses, but access to authorities and verification is limited.

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  • Definition of professional journalism: report what happened by being present, talking to multiple participants, researching issues/people involved, presenting a fair narrative with context and clarity.

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  • Social media as a double-edged tool for journalists: it can drive topics and provide context, but is often shaped by groups with agendas; readers must critically assess information and demand sources.

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  • Transition to Part II: How journalists can use social media responsibly in reporting.

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  • Real-world examples of responsible use:
    • 2012 Tuscaloosa News commended by the Pulitzer Board for real-time updates via social and traditional media during a deadly tornado; helped locate missing persons and provided emergency resources.
    • 2007 Virginia Tech shooting: Facebook used by students to notify loved ones; journalists sourced quotes and info from profiles/blogs.
    • In a high-profile trial without cameras: reporters tweeted minute-by-minute details (Twitter and iPad) and linked to full stories.

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  • Resources for journalists using social media:
    • Facebook safety guide for journalists, developed with Poynter (a nonprofit for fact-checking, media literacy, ethics).
    • Journalism.co.uk’s guide as another helpful resource.

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  • Twitter as a global tool for media, government, and corporations:
    • Chronological timeline ideal for breaking news.
    • Journalists can:
    • research topics by finding tweets or blogs;
    • post tweets to seek sources and update information;
    • connect with eyewitnesses during disasters by posting questions;
    • Twitter enables engagement with readers and crowdsourcing story ideas; sharing links and providing context; developing a unique journalist voice.

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  • Twitter in brief for beginners (summary of common actions):
    • Create a Twitter account; search for people to read.
    • To follow someone, click the link under their name to reach their home page and see recent comments.
    • A username preceded by @ links to their Twitter page.
    • Following someone means you receive their tweets on your home page.
    • For more, visit support.twitter.com/groups/50-welcome-to-twitter#.

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  • Audience considerations and cautions:
    • Maintaining a presence on Twitter is important but audiences outside the U.S. may be smaller; Twitter trolls/harassment are a risk, especially for women journalists and journalists of color.
    • At its best, Twitter is a powerful way to spread and amplify news as it happens.
    • Resources: NewsWhip’s top eight tips for journalists.

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  • Collaboration with newsroom policies and culture:
    • In Dec 2021, Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) released a special report on journalists’ reactions to newsroom social media policies:
    • Journalists rely on platforms like Facebook and Twitter for audience engagement, but this creates risks (allegations of political bias, termination risk, trolling, threats).
    • Policies often focus on avoiding actions that could compromise perceived objectivity rather than addressing real issues.

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  • General consensus on participation:
    • Journalists should participate in social media to perform their jobs well.
    • Social media can ease outreach to difficult sources and illuminate stories on specific beats (e.g., politics, sports).
    • Be mindful of risks; use social media as a reporting tool and as a means to monitor developments.
    • Case study serves to illustrate potential dangers and ethics in practice.

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  • Practical guidance for journalists using social media:
    • Social media helps with sourcing and beat monitoring; Twitter/Facebook as tools to keep track of ongoing stories.
    • Distinguish between using social media as a reporting tool and as a personal outlet; maintain professionalism.
    • Remain aware of risks and ethics; accountability to audience.

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  • CASE STUDY: Alex Harris, Miami Herald (2015–2018):
    • Harris used Twitter to find sources and promote work; occasionally shared personal posts (family, cat) to humanize her profile.
    • February 2018: active shooter in Parkland, Florida:
    • Harris used Twitter to reach out to students, sent messages attempting to verify safety and gather information (e.g., “Hi. I’m so sorry. I hope you’re safe. Can I talk to you? Can you DM me if you’re in a good position?”).

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  • Backlash and manipulation: some tweets were circulated to argue journalists are predatory; fake tweets surfaced alleging inappropriate questions and videos; assailants posted doctored tweets on white nationalist forums; personal information (Facebook profile, family details, address) was exposed; threats followed (rape and death threats).

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  • Despite risks, Twitter engagement can be valuable:
    • Zach Buchanan (The Athletic) notes that Twitter can reveal tips or misdevelopments that would otherwise be missed; ongoing tip feedback from the public can be informative.
    • Twitter/Facebook create open channels for the public to send story ideas and suggestions directly to journalists.
    • Journalists can maintain open DMs to receive tips and leads from readers.

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  • Social media as audience-building and engagement tools:
    • Twitter and Facebook facilitate audience engagement and visibility of journalists and their work.
    • Journalists can engage in back-and-forth interactions, increasing transparency in the reporting process; readers can participate as reporting unfolds.

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  • Upholding traditional notions of objectivity in the social media era:
    • newsroom policies emphasize objectivity and balance to maintain credibility.
    • Some scholars and practitioners critique objectivity as an unattainable ideal, noting all reporters have opinions.

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  • Framing and neutrality: language matters in reporting.
    • Journalists can avoid value-laden language by choosing neutral phrasing (e.g., “gun rights” vs. “gun control”; “abortion legislation” vs. “reproductive rights”).
    • Debate: should journalists distinguish between their own views and the organization’s official stance? Some argue for separating personal views from organizational reporting; others argue for fairness in presentation.

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  • Newsrooms and objectivity: debate on whether to separate journalist’s views from organizational stance.
    • Proposed approach: emphasize objectivity of practice over objectivity of self; focus on fair reporting regardless of individual beliefs; the line between social media expression and professional reporting can be managed through careful framing.

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  • Perspectives on Twitter usage in newsrooms:
    • Some journalists argue for not relying on Twitter at all; readers may not be on Twitter; referrals from Twitter are often low.
    • Suggestion: use Twitter as a reporting tool and for sourcing, rather than as the primary platform for communicating with the public.
    • Audience discussion: prompts for readers to reflect on whether social media has helped or hindered journalism, and how it informs opinions on the news.

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  • Writing for Twitter (summary of guidelines):
    • Treat Twitter like basic journalism but amplified.
    • Write short sentences; use active verbs; maintain a conversational tone.
    • Create a lede that gets to the main point quickly; craft a clear headline.
    • If posting photos, identify people with captions.
    • Abbreviate carefully; common abbreviations include: 2 (for to), b (for be), wd (for would), u (for you), r (for are). Exercise caution with other abbreviations.

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  • Verifying Twitter sources (verification process):
    • Contact the person who sent the tweet via direct message, email, or phone to confirm.
    • Check the contributor’s profile: who they follow and who follows them; who can vouch for them.
    • Review the person’s previous tweets for red flags.
    • For breaking news: check tweet timing to assess if the person is an eyewitness and determine their location.
    • Corroborate the account with other users’ accounts or independent sources.

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  • SOCIAL MEDIA ETHICS, COPYRIGHT, ADVERTISING:
    • Be careful what you post on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms since employers often review candidate profiles; past posts can resurface via screenshots or archives.
    • Deletions do not erase content from the web; data can persist in archives.
    • Rule of thumb: don’t post anything you wouldn’t want reprinted on the front page of a major paper (e.g., The New York Times).

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  • COPYRIGHT, DISCLOSURES, NEUTRALITY:
    • COPYRIGHT: Do not take information from others’ blogs or sites without permission or attribution; this includes photos and videos unless covered by Fair Use. Works are automatically copyrighted upon publication. Creative Commons licenses indicate reuse rights and attribution requirements.
    • DISCLOSURES (FTC policy since 2009): if you endorse a product on social media, disclose compensation, gifts, samples, or employment by the company (e.g., brand ambassador).
    • NEUTRALITY: Should staff reporters publish personal opinions in blogs when impartial coverage is required? Most outlets have policies discouraging personal blogs that could affect perceived impartiality; postings can be publicly disseminated.
    • Sidenote: Another viewpoint argues for normalizing not using Twitter at all due to limited public reach; balance between usefulness as a reporting tool and public-facing engagement.
  • Final prompt: readers are invited to reflect on these issues and share thoughts on the discussion board about whether social media has helped or hurt journalism and how it informs opinions about the news.