The dictionary defines journalism as the “activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on radio and television.” Today, we are seeing an increasing number of these newspapers, magazines, and broadcasts to be sources of the Internet. The online world has opened an exorbitant amount of outlets and ways that people can publish and access information, and more specifically, where people can encounter journalism.
Different from published sources, online journalism can include input from anyone and everyone; there are few barriers, and in turn, the internet is a place that cultivates and collects many people’s opinions and stories. It is truly positive that citizens are able to get more involved, share a plethora of meaningful and thoughtful subjects, and give feedback on the reports and articles that are important to them. However, the issue of credibility is important to note. Because of the few rules and regulations, truth and accuracy is not always presented in online publications. It is harder to find reliable sources, and the issue of the "overwhelming nature" to Americans by the amount of news and information that is out there arises.
An especially interesting aspect of journalism today is what people call, “social media.” Facebook, Twitter, MySpace – there are a myriad of social media tools and sites that the majority of Americans access on a day-to-day basis. It is interesting to me that social media can be viewed as a profession nowadays. My friend was showing me a summer job offer the other day that advertised for someone who possesses good writing skills and is, “adept at administrative work (i.e. tagging photos, posting statuses).” It first seemed ridiculous to me that what I know to be simple facebook procedures could be viewed as a skill in the workplace. However, as I thought about how significant of an impact these social networking sites have on the common people, I realized the importance of mastering social media skills in order to use the site to the individual or organization’s advantage and purpose. In a society where people spend more time on who they’re following on Twitter than on the events happening in their City Hall, businesses and organizations need to reach their audience in a way that they will be perceived. In fact, it is part of the journalist’s job to reach out to the public – there would be no point for the journalist to write if his or her work was not being read.
There is a potential of the social networking tools in transforming journalism in the future. With the convenience, availability, and portability of the internet, it makes it much easier for groups to post updates, recent news, and press releases of their organization. Nonprofits and advocacy groups are able to raise awareness and publicize their events quicker and cheaper than before. The company I am working at this summer relies on their Facebook page to jumpstart their campaigns and announce recent news about themselves, whether it be a new partner or their new initiative. It is important to demonstrate proficient writing skills through these social media outlets in order to win and maintain an audience who is your prospective donors and lobbyists.
Moreover, a study done by Knowledge Networks this past February illustrates that college students value web advocacy more than an in-person effort (Read Full Story Here). Campaign sites are being moved to Facebook and Twitter accounts so that they can easily reach constituents and garner support. In addition, these sites can contribute to a postive perception for the candidate or group, just by looking at how many Facebook friends or "Likes" he or she has.
What do you think of the role social networking sites play in the realm of news and campaigns? Do you believe there is a weakened credibility for sources found online?
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