Since the birth of social media, journalists have had to face the challenge of how to approach the current news trends. With Twitter and Facebook it become very easy to weave ones own opinion into the news story one may be writing. But as journalism ethics confess, it is crucial to stay unbiased and neutral in all reporting and informing.
However, television stations such as E! and shows like Entertainment Tonight glamorize their reporting. These celebrity-like figures make popular Twitter followers and Facebook ‘friends.’ But then is it appropriate for these news reporters to combine their personal opinions with factual information?
Personally, when I tweet or post status updates I am conscientious of what I am saying. Sometimes I can be very opinionated but considering the career I hope to establish someday I would not want to tarnish my reputation. Through networking, and as shallow as it may seem, people rely heavily on the opinions of their friends and family about certain people. If one person can give you a good recommendation or say wonderful things about ones work ethic it will oftentimes take one father than their own resume may.
Think of it like getting ready for work in the morning—would a businessperson go to work in a t-shirt and jeans instead of a suit and tie? It would be inappropriate in a work setting. It’s the same way on Twitter. Everyone’s tweets are their own responsibility and the way the rest of Twitter nation views them and their online persona.
This brings up another issue—drunk tweeting. College students, celebrities and the average tweeter alike find it too easy to not filter their tweets when they are drinking. It makes it especially easy due to the easy accessibility with smart phones. For journalists, it is even more crucial to avoid this. If people are to trust a journalist as information carriers they want to trust them as an average person as well. It is as if every journalist is their own public relations representative and responsibility.
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