Impact of Social Media on Journalism

Bill Grueskin, academic dean of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, talked about the use of social media in reporting. Reporters have gone from virtual anonymity to having thousands of followers, but this branding has risks and rewards for journalists and institutions. There is an economic incentive for news organization to control social media as they lose some of those followers if the journalist changes jobs, but some have been fired for opinions expressed on social media. The need to be provocative to obtain more followers can call the journalist’s fairness into question. Topics included the tension between the necessary spontaneity of social media and careful editing.

“Reporting in a Social Media World” was a program held at the Commerce Club by the Atlanta Press Club with the Columbia School of Journalism. close