How has social media transformed traditional mainstream media? Let’s consider four important aspects. 5t6o2a

Quality of journalism 3a1bf

Contrary to what many people may think, in the age of social media there is no famine of sources for impeccable journalism. However, it is also true that many outlets have been sacrificing accuracy and ethics for the sake of immediacy and  reshares.

Nowadays, many publishers don’t even go through fact-checking. It is sometimes as simple as sharing information found on social networks. At the end of the day, it all boils down to finding the best sources.

The job of the reporters 3r5u54

Today, reporters are pressured to post on social media regularly and before any other mainstream outlet.

Nevertheless, many newspapers and magazines have implemented measures to reach a balance between exposure and accuracy. They don’t share news directly on social media. They only link to the latest stories once the piece has been published on the official website.

Bloggers and reporters 212h1c

Are bloggers a threat to reporters in mainstream media? Not necessarily. A significant part of the content on blogs is simply hearsay. In fact, many bloggers unapologetically focus on spreading speculations and coming up with theories.

On the other hand, real journalism, even in this day and age, continues to be about ing sources, facts and stories. But then again, the pressure to be faster rather than correct on each detail is irreversibly increasing.

Mainstream media in the next decades 48185e

In an ever-changing and always unpredictable technological world, it is almost impossible to predict what mainstream media will be like in 20 years. Newspapers can very well still be around, but probably no longer on print. The focus on video and images will also be significantly increased.

As to whether the industry will be able to make any profit, it’s hard to tell. We are already noticing today that most people are not willing to pay for a newspaper, a magazine or an online subscription.

Our need for journalism is never-ending. Social media is a powerful tool to get information, but it can also be a dangerous one if not moderated by traditional media.