1. TOPIC 1: How is Social Media used in each media vehicle?
Is it used in conjunction with other media channels (cross-referencing
or linking to other media)? Describe how this is happening, and in your
opinion, the perceived impact on the "target" audience.
I believe that social media most definitely influences each media vehicle. I think most of the media channels that I used linked to other media outlets. For example, when I used news networks, they all seemed to update their stories around the same time. I would look up my story on ABC News, and right after CBS had a new video similar. I think that these news networks do this because they want to be the first ones with the newest information for their viewers. Most people want to receive the latest update, rather than hearing old news. Social media is obviously used the most when I used Twitter as a media vehicle. People post their own original ideas for every one else to see. Social media is also used in blogs because they consider their viewers when writing their stories and making the design of their website. You can see what kind of people they want their website blogs to interest. For example, when I used ABC New's blog for my media vehicle, they have very simple organization for adults to read.
2. TOPIC 2: Fact checking, accuracy, and credibility:
In your analysis, compare each media vehicle, and the effectiveness of
the news reporting. Does the story vary in its facts from one vehicle
to another? How is the information conveyed differently across the
various mass media channels? Does the use of multimedia impact fact
checking, accuracy, or credibility (in other words, how are news stories
supported? What sources are cited to support their reporting?)
I found that the most effective news reporting came from the television newscasts that I watched. The reporters are able to incorporate pictures and video which make the story more interesting and kept my attention. I felt as though that they were able to incorporate more of the story into it. I think when I used the social media outlets, I only received one side of the story. People seems to only talk about what they saw or think of the story that I researched. I found that the online news blogs were much more reliable and accurate to read compared to Twitter feeds.
3. TOPIC 3: Multi-media reporting: In cases where a news agency has both an online and another media channel presence (for example,
CNN has a cable channel, plus an online website), how is the message of
the story conveyed? Is the story part of an ongoing news cycle (that
is, part of an hourly or other periodic broadcast)? How is the news
story presented in its online counterpart? Is there a difference in the
way the story is covered online?
I thought that when I used NBC News as a source, that the message was conveyed in the same way. I think that the NBC newscasters were able to send their message through video much better, compared to just an online article. This could be just because I prefer to watch and hear about a story rather than reading about it. When they updated their news story they would post it on their home page, and post another article containing the same information. I think the major difference is that the newscaster was able to put more emotion into their message because you could hear how he was telling the story, compared to just reading it.
4. TOPIC 4: The presence of Citizen Journalism. One example of this is where news media programs take video submitted from viewers' cell phones .
Another example is where websites aggregate (compile) news stories from
both major- and independent sources, such as CurrentTV
(http://www.currenttv.com), or even YouTube.com. How does this form of
journalism impact the user experience from the audience's perspective?
Does the reporting (or video in this case) raise issues of ethics,
especially in terms of privacy, or freedom of speech? Explain.
I think the presence of Citizen Journalism impacts the user experience a lot. When you see video from someone's phone for example, you can see a different perspective, and usually it isn't edited for people to view. I think when news programs show video from someone's phone, it makes the show more personal in a way, because it gets the viewer more involved. In addition, I think when people post videos on online websites, such as Youtube, it raises issues of freedom of speech. When websites compile news stories from different sources together, it makes the story just a little bit different from what it was originally. It impacts people's perspectives, because they can receive false information, or receive it in a different, opinionated way.
