Effectiveness of Social Media on News Gathering and Dissemination
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study has the following objectives:
- To ascertain the type of social media tool that is often used by TVC Lagos in gathering and disseminating information.
- To evaluate how social media have enhanced the news gathering and dissemination of TVC.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
Use of social media in media houses
Media houses can use social network sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even You Tube to interact with and obtain information from others. As Boyd and Ellison’s (2007: 3) classic definition of social network sites indicates, these are information sources that allow users to create profiles and establish online connections with friends and acquaintances. These social media provide an opportunity for ordinary citizens to create their own news content, 12 distribute it online, and comment on the content created by others. Each of these social media is distinct. For instance, You Tube is primarily a video-sharing site that permits users to both view and upload video content and commentary. On the other hand, sites such as Facebook are more textual and are designed more for direct interpersonal and social connection. But an important similarity among these social media and a defining attribute of each is the fact that they are more user centered and allow forms of social interaction than their traditional media counterparts. These social media provide a new form of mediated communication that gives the audience access to on-demand content and the ability to share and discuss it with others (Papacharissi, 2009: 207) Brown et al. (2007: 20) found that individuals who participate in online social environments such as social networking sites are likely to experience a sense of understanding, connection, involvement, and interaction with others who participate in these environments.
The role of social media in journalism
The convergence of communicative technologies, coupled with the changing economic mandates and a rising consumer culture has shaped the media culture. The mainstream media are increasingly using social media in an attempt to transport spectators into active participants. This kind of convergence and participation has a direct impact and great influences on what constitutes resulting media content. Social media subverts the hierarchy access which often dictates who is sourced in news content according to the perceived credibility. The frequent solicitation from media outlets for feedback from viewers via the social media has been said to be purposeful so that a relationship can be formed between the media outlets and the audience. Use of social media sites in news gathering emphasizes audience participation and personalization in the creation of content and presents different kind of news discourse
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Effectiveness of Social media on News gathering and Dissemination.. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing effectiveness of Social media on News gathering and Dissemination.
Summary
This study was on effectiveness of Social media on News gathering and Dissemination. Two objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the type of social media tool that is often used by TVC Lagos in gathering and disseminating information and to evaluate how social media have enhanced the news gathering and dissemination of TVC. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from TVC station in Lagos state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study on the effectiveness of social media on news gathering and dissemination reveals that social media has a significant impact on how news is produced, shared, and consumed in the modern era. Social media platforms have revolutionized the way people access and interact with news, allowing for a faster and more personalized news experience. The ability of social media to facilitate real-time information sharing and engagement has transformed the traditional news industry and empowered individual users to become citizen journalists.
However, the study also highlights some potential downsides to the reliance on social media for news dissemination, including the spread of fake news, misinformation, and polarization of opinions. The responsibility of social media platforms to fact-check and moderate content is crucial to prevent the spread of false information that can lead to harm. It is, therefore, essential for social media platforms, traditional news outlets, and users to work together to ensure that accurate and trustworthy information is disseminated through social media.
Overall, the study shows that social media has profoundly affected the news industry and will continue to shape the future of news dissemination. While there are challenges to be addressed, social media presents opportunities for a more diverse, inclusive, and democratic news landscape.
Recommendation
Based on the findings of the study on the effectiveness of social media on news gathering and dissemination, several recommendations can be made to improve the use of social media in news production and dissemination. These recommendations include:
Enhance social media literacy: It is essential to promote media literacy among social media users to help them discern between real and fake news. This can be achieved through education campaigns and awareness programs aimed at helping users identify trustworthy sources of information.
Promote responsible journalism: Traditional news outlets should adhere to ethical standards and journalistic integrity in their use of social media for news dissemination. They should also collaborate with social media platforms to ensure that fake news and misinformation are not disseminated through their channels.
Improve content moderation: Social media platforms should invest in improving their content moderation tools to detect and remove fake news and other forms of misinformation from their platforms. They should also promote fact-checking and provide access to reliable sources of information.
Encourage user-generated content: Social media platforms should continue to empower users to become citizen journalists by providing platforms for user-generated content. This can help to diversify news content and provide a more nuanced perspective on current events.
Foster collaboration between traditional news outlets and social media platforms: Collaboration between traditional news outlets and social media platforms can help to promote a more trustworthy and reliable news ecosystem. News outlets can benefit from the real-time engagement provided by social media platforms, while social media platforms can benefit from the journalistic standards and expertise of traditional news outlets.
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