Keeping in mind the definition of social media provided in the chapter, how are stories presented on social media different from those reported in traditional media formats? Which rules still apply, and which ones can be altered or ignored?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The definition of social media provided in the chapter is “A digital tool that doesn’t just provide information but also seeks to have you interact with it while you are getting that information.” In many ways, this interactivity reinforces the core aspects of traditional journalism or even makes them more important. Audience centricity, for example, is extremely important in social media, since readers will only convey authority and trust on reporters who constantly demonstrate value. However, this interactivity also changes the relationship between reporter and audience, so that audience members can participate in the production of news content by serving as sources of information on niche topics or providing footage of an event not being covered by traditional media outlets. This new relationship between journalists and their audience allows journalists to discard some of the traditional stylistic and formatting rules that were intended to maintain a sense of uniformity and consistency across mass media outlets while still maintaining their focus on the reader’s needs and interests.