Journalism and Social Media

Journalism and Social Media This paper examines the values and dangers of the use of Twitter for modern day journalists in gathering and reporting the news. As my research will suggest, Twitter has been a highly useful tool for journalists in gathering and disseminating the news. As opposed to the traditional news cycles, journalists use Twitter to disseminate stories in real time, often as they are happening. Twitter is an effective news gathering tool as it allows them to communicate instantly with sources, or witnesses to news events. However, this same pull toward expediency has drawbacks, particularly in the area of accuracy, the most vital component of a journalist’s credibility. The “rush to Tweet” pressures journalists to the extent that, in some cases, sources are not appropriately vetted , resulting in inaccurate reporting. However, my research suggests that journalists will continue to use Twitter as it serves multiple purposes for both journalists and their audience