The digital shift: how social media has reshaped journalism

By: Sydney Froelich

Photo by Wix

Journalism today looks very different from what it did just a decade ago. In the past, most people consumed their news through newspapers. 

Broadcast television news also provided a daily ritual for families, who tuned in every morning and night. 

Today, most people receive their news through social media, and it has transformed what the relationship between consumers and the creators used to be. 

Pros and cons of two-way communication

Anthony Adornato states in chapter one of his book, Mobile and Social Media Journalism: A Practical Guide for Multimedia Journalism, “Journalism has shifted from a one-way to a two-way conversation that is redefining how journalists report and interact with the audience.” 

Anyone with a smartphone can become the messenger of information, which brings both positive and negative possibilities to the table. 

On the good side, this change in journalism can allow for faster breaking news. 

People can now witness and share newsworthy events in real time. Chapter one highlights cases like the “Miracle on the Hudson,” where a bystander tweeted a photo of an emergency plane landing before journalists could arrive at the scene. 

The post went viral, and the person who posted the tweet, Janis Krums, was interviewed by various news outlets. 

The pace at which news can be published puts pressure on all newsrooms to release news fast and accurately. 

This can be considered a drawback of this new age of journalism. Journalists have to stay accurate while moving quickly. Moving at such a fast pace can also cause the spread of misinformation. 

Active audiences 

Journalists now have to navigate how to compete with their active audiences on all platforms. 

An active audience describes everyone who is interacting with the news they see online. In the past, consumers were more passive because they had few ways of engaging with news aired on television or in a newspaper. 

The advancement of technology and social media has brought so many possibilities for people to actively engage with the news, but has also shown the habits news consumers may have developed. For example: liking, commenting, reposting, and more. 

Now, people expect immediate access to news and can even become a source of news themselves. 

“Today, mobile and social media allow journalists to build their own brands by sharing their work directly with the audience and fostering an informal relationship with them,” Adornato states in chapter three. 

TikTok and Instagram users have looked toward individuals who have created a brand around the stories they love to tell. 

Personally, I found myself really liking Harry Sisson’s content. The 23-year-old influencer posts political updates on all platforms and has gotten the attention of Gen Z news consumers. 

His accuracy and personality are what make people trust him. Trust is a mandatory relationship that a journalist and their audience members must have. 

Important journalism skills

Currently, with the rapid spread of news, journalists have to earn trust through the accuracy and consistency in the stories they publish because now, consumers can respond publicly. 

Adornato says, “Think of journalism as a conversation, rather than a lecture.”

Social media has allowed the messengers and the consumers to build relationships where they can exchange feedback and even provide tips for new story ideas. 

Becoming a master of mobile and social media is intimidating, and there are many skills journalists need to have to do that. 

For example, journalists need to have established their brand to increase trust. They also have to adhere to AP style and journalistic standards to maintain credibility. Additionally, they have to adapt their writing styles for different platforms. 

Writing for television is different from writing for digital. People scrolling on social media will realistically only dedicate a few seconds to a news post. So journalists should make sure that the post is attention-grabbing. 

From reading chapters of Mobile and Social Media Journalism: A Practical Guide for Multimedia Journalism, it reminded me that journalism today is no longer a one-way street. 

Instead, it is a conversation between reporters and their audiences, all mediated through social media apps.

It made me realize how important fieldwork is, especially since anyone with a smartphone can share news. The more time I spend in the field, the greater my chances of capturing something truly newsworthy. 

The book also emphasized the importance of building a strong personal brand as a journalist, which is what I hope to do with food coverage this year. 

And ultimately, I saw how building trust with my audience is key to increasing credibility. Something that I will strive for in every story that I write.