Social media usage and its impact on journalists' credibility

 Maya Morita

mayamorita19@gmail.com

Source: Noblecopy

In 1980, The Columbus Dispatch was the first newspaper to create an online publication. Following in their footsteps, many other news organizations established their online platforms. This digitization of journalism led to these platforms becoming the primary source of news consumption. 

According to a study done by Pew Research Center, 86% of Americans read the news online, while 32% obtain it through print publications. The appeal of digital journalism stems from the convenience; those with internet access have the news in the palm of their hands. However, according to a study done by Poynter, out of the 86% of Americans reading news online, only 29% trust it.

Shortly after the rise of digital journalism, in 2002, social media began to popularize for people to share thoughts, moments, photos, etc. Unfortunately, despite the virtuous appeal of social media, it has created a downfall for journalism.

Journalists are just like everyone else, and they have opinions. However, journalists differ concerning the impact of their digital footprint. For example, if a journalist from The New York Times were to post on Twitter about their adoration for President Joe Biden, The New York Times would be deemed a liberal and biased news source. Even if the publication provides the truth, that particular, opinionated post by their writers will impact their audience's trust.

The primary goal of journalism is to serve the public by providing the nonpartisan truth of an event. Journalistic values are based on truth and accuracy, not opinion. But these values are often clouded by the personal lives of the journalist. This blurred line ultimately forces journalists to relinquish personal prejudices that do not pertain to their workplace.

There are a few options where journalists are prohibited from expressing opinions: adapt to a neutral state of mind or utilize social media features. Social media platforms allow one to make multiple accounts and privatize accounts. For example, on Instagram, people have utilized this feature to create pages called "fiestas." According to an article from Business Insider, people use these features to create accounts that limit viewers and allow one to post privately. Additionally, this differentiation between personal and professional life can be done on most social media platforms, like Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. 

Social media is dangerous for journalists. However, human beings are innately opinionated, making it almost impossible for journalists to obliterate personal biases independent of their professional lives. Therefore, if a journalist is compelled to declare their point of view on social media either through sharing a post or simply stating what is on their mind, they should use the features available to them and create a separate and private account.