It’s safe to say that social media has taken the world by storm over the past couple of decades. Not only has social media transformed the way that we interact with each other, but it has also had a profound effect on the way that most people read the news and stay up to date with current affairs.
Journalism’s Changing Landscape
It stands to reason, then, that social media has also had a strong bearing on the field of journalism. Social media platforms have had a considerable influence on how the news is produced, distributed – and consumed. Many readers now favour short snippets of the news instead of lengthy articles.
While social media platforms are often useful tools for journalists, they also create several challenges for people working in the profession.
Knowing how to use social media to share and promote stories has become an essential skill for journalists. It’s also a key way for journalists to monitor trends, and find out breaking news. For this reason, using social media is now typically included in a journalism degree like https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk, so that graduates are well equipped for careers in the digital era.
Challenges
Social media has also created various challenges that journalists must overcome. There’s considerably more competition now, due to influencers and online creators. Social media is often home to a good deal of misinformation, too.
Then there are algorithms – platforms typically promote the most engaging content, sometimes even sensational posts, making it more difficult for quality journalism to stand out.
