How Social Media Has Improved the Field of Journalism - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 500 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/04/10 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Social Media Essay Did you like this example? Since leaving Chapman University I have held three different positions in the field of Journalism. I have worked as a Production Assistant for Dateline News, I have worked as a writer for the local CBS News Station in Los Angeles, and currently I am working as a Broadcast Associate for 48 Hours. Though the job requirements for each of these positions and broadcast vary one the common thread they all share is the dominance of social media the field of journalism. Journalists utilizing social media can now publish the news faster than ever before. Not only is the news published at a lightning fast pace but in the digital age from the palm of their hand anyone with a smart phone can post the news. This immediate journalism is not just an expectation it is now a requirement. News subscribers dont have to wait for the morning paper or evening news to receive information. Anytime of day, from anywhere in the world journalists can post live coverage and updates for their followers as current event unfold. The downside of this immediacy is the pressure to push out stories has led to less accuracy. Journalist are competing to report first on a story leading to an insurgence of careless reporting, as quick reporting quickly does not necessarily correlate with accurate reporting. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "How Social Media Has Improved the Field of Journalism" essay for you Create order Social media has given journalists the chance to build not only a public profile but a brand. While this used to be extremely difficult, utilizing Instagram, Twitter and Facebook allows journalists to weigh in on topics as they unfold and not only report on what is happening but be part of the larger conversation. Social media is a tool a journalist can use to reach viewers outside of their industry and across the world. With a social media profile viewers can to put a face to a name. The audience may subscribe to a publication or watch a specific broadcast because they enjoy certain journalists on a personal level. A goal of journalists in the digital age is to build a brand through their work and social following that will grow as they move through their career. The downside of a public persona on social media is the backlash. Social media makes it easier for members of the public to respond to journalists they do not like or agree with. Journalism has always been reliant upon advertising since its inception, in the digital age this translates to clicks. Whilst publications used to pay for advertising, social media is now a free tool for publications and individual journalists looking to boost content distribution. As the most popular social network, Facebook is a powerful way for publishers to reach larger audiences. Journalists recognize the distribution power of Facebook and are thus changing the way they create content. Social media has allowed digital companies like Buzzfeed grow. The company who rose to prominence utilizing Facebook now operated on a mixed model. One part of the company focuses on viral content to subsidize investigative reporting.