Social media has quickly become one of the most critical aspects of our daily lives. People are constantly tuned into Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok for updates on their friends' lives and to stay connected with the rest of the world.
As a result of the growing interest in social media and technology, journalism has moved online. Journalists are familiar with online software, and they need to have a presence on social media to promote content. Twitter can be a vital resource for journalists in breaking news situations. In some cases, Tweeting about a natural disaster or significant event can reach the target audience before a quick brief or follow-up story. Social media is a critical way to gain information for the target audience. Users who follow their favorite journalists and news organizations may consume most of their news via social media. However, social media has blurred the line between journalism and other professions.
Who is a journalist?
Influencers and bloggers may consider themselves journalists. In a court case cited in an article from the reporters' committee, an appeal court stated that "new media should not be confused with news media." Journalists intend to gather and distribute information, whereas bloggers and influencers may not diligently research and gather sources for their topics. Furthermore, as discussed last week in class, journalists are bound by ethics codes. Journalists must adhere to codes that outline the importance of truth, fact-checking, diligent reporting, and editing. Bloggers, influencers, and everyday social media users are not tied to such codes. As a result, they do not face the punishments when they break such ethical standards, and they may be more willing to spread misinformation, disinformation, or fake news.
That is not to say that journalists do not spread misinformation by mistake at times; however, journalists have methods to correct such errors and make sure readers understand the fault. Those codes ensure that journalists are transparent. Unfortunately, while quite clear and distinct, the definition of journalism may result in some people considering themselves journalists without adopting the same standards. That is dangerous when news is so easily accessible on social media. In the age of misinformation and confusion regarding who should be trusted, news literacy is more critical now than ever.
News Literacy
Just as journalists have a code of ethics to report, readers should adopt the code they engage in news media. News literacy is the knowledge needed to thoughtfully and critically engage in journalism. According to a Pew Research Center study into facts and democracy, 26% of adults could classify five factual statements as factual while 35% correctly classified five opinion statements as opinion. Those numbers are pretty low, and people who engage in the media need to be aware of differences and opinions.
Readers can become more news literate by carefully analyzing the source of the news they are consuming, determining if the story is an opinion, and reading the entire story. Readers should ask questions. Who is the journalist? What is their background? Any conflicts of interest? What is the news organization? Are they politically affiliated? Does the writer editorialize within a news story?
Mindlessly consuming and sharing news contributes significantly to the spread of misinformation. As reported in the weekly reading, fake news is more likely to be retweeted and shared on social media because it is more eye-catching. Misinformation is shocking and may cause more profound emotional reactions from readers. Before sharing, readers need to assess what they are sharing. Trusting journalists is critical, but to trust a new source, readers need to understand how to think critically about the media they consume.
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