Is social networking useful for journalists?

The arrival of social networking sites about a decade ago revolutionized media overnight. On one hand, journalists in repressive states such as Communist China found a way of spitting out the media gag and telling the whole world of the gross human rights violations in China. On the other hand, lack of editorial control on social networks means anyone can disseminate news with careless regards to ethics. Technology is expanding media beyond our wildest imaginations, but has the advent of social networking heralded in a glorious new frontier for journalism, or is it the beginning of the perversion of our ethical duties?

In layman’s terms, social networking is where people from different towns, cities, countries or even continents develop networks of friends and associates through links. Practical examples of popular sites are Blogger.com, Twitter, You-Tube, Facebook, My Space and Linkedin.com. Sites like these offer the 21^st century journalist an extremely effective way of communicating with a niche group or global target audience with limitless benefits…

…Sports24.com shows how journalists can effectively target a desired niche group. The blog offers millions of sports enthusiasts up to the day local and international sports news. Interactive features such as comments and forums allow people to discuss and leave their own opinions clearly distinguishable from the editors. If an offensive comment is posted, users can report the alleged perpetrator to the administrator. This ensures that blogs and groups alike aren’t the domain of unregulated hate speech and that a proper code of ethics is maintained.

Though it is practically impossible to control and monitor every discussion on social networking sites, because groups and bloggers claiming to be part of the ‘free press’ promoting hate speech, discrimination and incitement of imminent violence spring up everyday, putting the credibility of real journalists at risk. Some believe that by default, truth and professionalism will eventually overcome rumour and bias as people lose interest in renegade bloggers claiming to be rogue reporters, free press or ‘citizen reporters.’

Discussing the trend topic of how news organizations are relying on so-called citizen reporters (ordinary people with a video phone posting fresh footage of events on You-Tube or Facebook etc). A retired NBC News reporter was quoted saying, “citizen reporting is like saying someone with scalpel is a ‘citizen surgeon’ or someone who can read a law book is a ‘citizen lawyer.’ Information without journalistic standards is called gossip,” he exclaimed.

You-Tube videos and blogs set up by citizen journalists all have the same underlying flaw and that is they ignore the universal journalism code of conduct which is; factual, truthful, objective, fair, balanced and unbiased reporting. Another important factor is funding i.e. marketing for creating awareness to a broader audience as corporations won’t risk investing in these social networking vigilantes.

Eric Umansky, a well respected veteran journalist in America explained how in the near future, new ethical standards for online journalism and trusted online sources will be regulated by advertising.

“Online news sources will essentially be regulated by the marketplace…

"A blog, just like a newspaper, has to build credibility and people will stop reading if it’s unreliable and has old news,” said Umansky.

Just think of how new school journalists are spoilt by the lightning quick immediacy of social networks; celebrity gossip can be Tweeted within seconds by tabloid journalists, the final 2010 World Cup goal blogged by sports photographers within minutes or streaming footage of the aftermath of a terrorist attack can be broadcast live via You-Tube to a mesmerized audience. So, “Is social networking useful for journalists?” The answer is a unanimous yes!