The Impact of Social Media on News dissemination
According to the Oxford dictionary, news is any newly received or notable news, particularly regarding recent occurrences, normally a news story or broadcast, not previously understood by an individual. It may be general or detailed, topical or local, as in the case of a local news. The first recorded use of the word was in 1401 in England, according to Merriam Webster. In today’s usage, however, the word refers to any new event or development, especially with respect to the news media. As such, it has become an important part of our culture and information exchange.
The New York Times and The Associated Press (AP) are two of the most widely relied upon news organizations in the United States. The New York Times has been covering major breaking news stories for decades, while the AP regularly provides front-page news stories as well as breaking wire services around the world. These two media organizations are considered the “go to” sites for breaking news and other vital information. Many people rely on these sources when they need to know something important. For instance, a local town hall meeting is often covered by both the AP and NYTs, as people want to get breaking news prior to attending.
With all the different types of news, it is difficult for many people to keep up with all the pertinent information. For instance, if they are interested in the latest developments or happenings within their state, city or county, they will turn to a website such as the ones mentioned above to find out what is going on. Also, local television stations often provide breaking news segments that feature the local scene or certain areas within a city. For instance, the evening news on ABC is usually dedicated to some local area, while CNN has several programs that cater to the national audience. Therefore, when the national media decides to give people the news, it is often a highly anticipated event that fills stadiums and television networks are almost always booked.
This new type of news is also creating a new face of news: social media. Social media is defined as “an online community, comprising users who have common interests or similar outlooks.” In other words, it is a form of interaction between individuals that exists outside of the traditional outlets such as newspapers, television and magazines. A social media website is a place where a large number of people get to interact and share information. It is often the place to go for breaking news, celebrity gossip and viral videos.
Because of the popularity and ease of access to social media, this type of news is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to get breaking news today. Although there are many people who are skeptical about social media websites and the role they play in society, the facts are that the vast majority of people have become deeply involved in these websites. The media, however, has not embraced this new type of news quite yet. As more people get involved and begin posting information on their personal pages, the traditional media will likely have to catch up with this new form of news. It is currently the media that is lagging behind.
There are many different types of news that people can get their news from. However, it is not simply a matter of what type of news you want to hear. You can easily have the same information delivered to your home through social networking sites like Facebook.