Reporting in Real Time
Posted by: Nina Keim on: September 16, 2009
Social Media like Twitter and Facebook have not only become powerful tools for word of mouth marketing, they have also been actively integrated in everyday journalistic practices. More and more traditional media outlets leverage the opportunities of real time reporting by using Twitter or Facebook accounts. The Social Media Club in Washington, DC hosted a panel discussion on exactly this issue. As a social media enthusiast and Twitterer myself, I was happy to attend the event called Mainstream Media Using Social Media Tools.
Panelists at the Social Media Club event on 9/16
Panelists included Catherine Andrews, Editorial Director at Washingtonian, Cindy Boren, Deputy Sports Editor at The Washington Post, and Rick Dunham, Washington Bureau Chief of The Houston Chronicle & Hearst Newspapers. All panelists agreed especially on the benefits of Twitter for traditional media outlets: Twitter is a indispensable broadcasting tool in today’s media landscape that allows them to reach a wide, younger and more tech-savvy audience in real time. On the other side, engaging in social media requires clear ethical standards from journalists to keep their neutral standpoint.
Is it “ok” to become a fan of a left of right politician? Can I befriend them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter? According to the panel, following and befriending politicians on Facebook and Twitter is necessary to cover a certain beat; however, journalists need to be cautious not to become supporters of only one side of the political spectrum. Moreover, distinctions between befriending a politician and becoming a supporter or “fan” of a certain campaign are two different things in the Facebook world. As long as journalists are using the friendship as an informational source, it’s fine. When it comes to openly supporting causes or campaigns, the argument of bias can be made.
I especially liked this fine distinction. It shows how much difference every single step in the online – social media – world can make. Social media provide multiple opportunities for journalists to find informational sources. And yet, checking and verifying sources becomes more difficult.In the end, everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and social media make the media landscape more interesting and engaging.
