By Rob Alcock
At the start of 2012 it was reported that, for the first time, dedicated online news websites had surpassed traditional print media in regards to revenue and readership. While this conversion from physical to digital media was inevitable and foreseeable, many would not have predicted the impact social networks would have on society and the way that people learn about current events across the world. Despite social media's ever-growing influence and popularity, it is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of these platforms as news sources.
According to an article posted on Mashable, over 50 per cent of the US population has learnt about a breaking news story through social media long before the story was communicated through dedicated news channels such as the BBC, Sky News or CNN. This shows the instantaneous nature of social media and demonstrates a vast shift in the way that people stay informed of global events.
The value of social media as a news source can be illustrated by the story about how Osama Bin Laden's death was unknowingly revealed through Twitter in real time by an IT technician living close to the scene of the raid. Sohaib Athar continually tweeted details of the operation throughout, which subsequently led to Twitter and Facebook exploding with the story. Another great example of social media's ability to break news came in the aftermath of the Hudson River plane crash in New York City. Within minutes of the plane ditching into the river, the story had already been circulated on Twitter and within 15 minutes the story had reached millions. At one point it even crashed Twitpic due to the vast number of images of the downed place that were being uploaded and viewed.
While social networks undoubtedly offer a valid source for breaking news, the platforms are not without their flaws. For example, how many times have reports about celebrity deaths turned out to be hoaxes that had unrestrainedly spiralled into an endless chain of retweets and shares? The problem is that while social networks can deliver news quickly and effectively in real time, it is very important to remember that the communications can be inaccurate or misleading at first, with facts missing or being misconceived. This is largely due to news being submitted by normal people who simply tweet about what they can see or what they think might have happened without having the responsibility to verify the information they are posting. However, while social networks do have their downsides, it is undeniable that they have become valuable tools that allow millions of users to stay in touch with the world.
Rob Alcock is an account executive at Punch Communications, an integrated PR and searchagency with a range of global clients. Punch specialises in social media, crisis PR and SEO.
For more information about how our integrated approach differs from other agencies, please visit: www.punchcomms.com or call us on: 01858 411 600
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