Lets Get It Started!!!

This blog is intended to observe the impact social media has had and continues to have on today's media. More specifically, how the media ties social media into several of their stories. As technology continues to evolve and older methods of journalism are in danger of becomming extinct, today's journalists seem to use this social media craze to their advantage. While the internet and gadgets such as the kindle are viewed as an immediate threat to print journalism, other methods of reporting have embraced social media with open arms. We will also delve into who is watching and reading the news. The younger generation has been provided with a plethora of new toys or technologies at their disposal making it difficult for the news to gain the youth’s interest. What works in the media’s favor is that these technologies or toys can also serve as platforms to read or view various types of media. Phones with abilities to stream media and computers that serve as mini televisions make it possible for the media to relay its message through different vessel than that of the past. Whether or not this will capture the attention of the youth is hard to determine at the time being. Thus, we will pay close attention to whether this union of the media and social media can garner the viewership of the younger generations.

It is almost impossible to find anyone who does not have a Facebook, Twitter, or Linkden account. It's also tough to find anyone who hasn't watched a video on Youtube be it for leisure or a more productive reasoning. So it is not difficult to find out that reporters are also looking at these social media sites not only for information relating to particular stories, but for the story itself. More and more, the news continues to bring viewers clips from Youtube in order to better articulate a story. The news, along with shows like Sportcenter, also use Twitter and Facebook status updates as a part of their stories. This begs the question, is this really reporting, or has access to these social media sites made for lazy reporting? Perhaps since social media has seemingly taken over the globe, the media can’t help but involve it in their news broadcasts. Like companies or individuals who refuse to adapt to change when change is upon them, these entities will be left behind and perhaps the media does not wish to suffer the same fate. Journalism has seen a significant decrease in the area of print media and is struggling to keep this old occupation alive and social media may be a way to through this profession a lifeline. However, keeping this profession alive is easier said than done as newer technology is making it easier for people to ignore print journalism. Perhaps this collaboration between media and social media will reap great rewards and prove to be the wave of the future.

Come back next week and we'll dig a little deeper into this subject.