SOCIAL
media have changed the face of traditional media. In its wake is the
advent of citizen journalism where just about anybody can trigger news
event from anywhere and bring the world to a standstill.
Now, traditional media is trying to keep pace, with breaking news and ensuring that its readership or viewers are abreast of the news all the time by incorporating social media into their platforms. One major way traditional media has opened up its platform is to allow eyewitness report. Many traditional media now allow citizens to report events happening in their area just like many citizens use their social media tools to announce events and breaking news.
While commenting on the impact of social media on journalism, said social media has invented citizen journalists who create stories and tell it the way they want.
Duthiers made the observation as a member of a panel at Social Media Week that was celebrated recently in Lagos, noting, “What is lacking in this is professional touch, the editorial process that makes sure that the information uploaded is authentic. For instance has a submission process which ensures that every iReport submitted goes through an editorial process for authentication before being fed to the world.”
Duthiers was of the opinion that leading traditional media would continue to resort to social media or citizen journalists for news while social media will continue to increase in relevance because “negative stories effect positive change.”
The potency of social media, the correspondent noted, had seen it being described as “the people’s AK47,” which underlines the need for traditional media to exercise discretion in ‘sourcing’ news from citizen journalists.
“That is the import of the editorial process. Postings by independent writers must be authenticated before being deployed for public consumption”.
He gave example the story of a man in Tunisia who, when he got fed-up with the situation, set himself ablaze of which the world saw the story go viral on the social media space, and consequently triggered reactions and changes worldwide.
He stated that “The huge impact of social media will continue playing out in the affairs of men. I have seen it during the fuel subsidy protests in Nigeria. I have seen it in the Arab Spring in the way that Egyptians were able to bring down a dictatorship that has been in existence for over 40 years in just a few weeks. The Arab Spring started through the social media in Tunisia when a man who has had enough decided he wasn’t going to take it anymore and set himself on fire and that story went viral on social media.’’
Duthiers also argued that leaders across the world could also take advantage of the potency of social media in building strong perceptions for their countries instead of making efforts to stifle it.
Describing the social media as a huge driver of perception, he said, “the cat is already out of the bag and no amount of policing can stop people from posting on social media. That is the power of social media. It allows people create and tell their own stories.”
He further said that Nigerians could plug into the vast opportunities provided by social media in building a strong perception and a better image for Nigeria.
On why Nigerian government must latch onto social to build a better image for the country, the correspondent pointed out that: “Nigeria is one of the most innovative, advanced countries with the use of social media as a platform to get messages out, outside of the United States of America and few countries in Asia. I say this because of what I know from statistics that we tally on social media usage.”
While the potency of social media abounds for all to tap from, he, however, argued that the space should be thrown open, adding, “I believe the right of the people to be heard should not be hindered. It is a basic, fundamental human right. I firmly believe that the voice of the people should not be subdued”.
The rise of social media has seen citizen journalism gain ground across the world, with leading and trusted traditional media resorting to citizen journalists for some breaking news. Duthiers was optimistic that this trend would continue because traditional and social media are moving towards a blend and would see both supporting each another.
Now, traditional media is trying to keep pace, with breaking news and ensuring that its readership or viewers are abreast of the news all the time by incorporating social media into their platforms. One major way traditional media has opened up its platform is to allow eyewitness report. Many traditional media now allow citizens to report events happening in their area just like many citizens use their social media tools to announce events and breaking news.
While commenting on the impact of social media on journalism, said social media has invented citizen journalists who create stories and tell it the way they want.
Duthiers made the observation as a member of a panel at Social Media Week that was celebrated recently in Lagos, noting, “What is lacking in this is professional touch, the editorial process that makes sure that the information uploaded is authentic. For instance has a submission process which ensures that every iReport submitted goes through an editorial process for authentication before being fed to the world.”
Duthiers was of the opinion that leading traditional media would continue to resort to social media or citizen journalists for news while social media will continue to increase in relevance because “negative stories effect positive change.”
The potency of social media, the correspondent noted, had seen it being described as “the people’s AK47,” which underlines the need for traditional media to exercise discretion in ‘sourcing’ news from citizen journalists.
“That is the import of the editorial process. Postings by independent writers must be authenticated before being deployed for public consumption”.
He gave example the story of a man in Tunisia who, when he got fed-up with the situation, set himself ablaze of which the world saw the story go viral on the social media space, and consequently triggered reactions and changes worldwide.
He stated that “The huge impact of social media will continue playing out in the affairs of men. I have seen it during the fuel subsidy protests in Nigeria. I have seen it in the Arab Spring in the way that Egyptians were able to bring down a dictatorship that has been in existence for over 40 years in just a few weeks. The Arab Spring started through the social media in Tunisia when a man who has had enough decided he wasn’t going to take it anymore and set himself on fire and that story went viral on social media.’’
Duthiers also argued that leaders across the world could also take advantage of the potency of social media in building strong perceptions for their countries instead of making efforts to stifle it.
Describing the social media as a huge driver of perception, he said, “the cat is already out of the bag and no amount of policing can stop people from posting on social media. That is the power of social media. It allows people create and tell their own stories.”
He further said that Nigerians could plug into the vast opportunities provided by social media in building a strong perception and a better image for Nigeria.
On why Nigerian government must latch onto social to build a better image for the country, the correspondent pointed out that: “Nigeria is one of the most innovative, advanced countries with the use of social media as a platform to get messages out, outside of the United States of America and few countries in Asia. I say this because of what I know from statistics that we tally on social media usage.”
While the potency of social media abounds for all to tap from, he, however, argued that the space should be thrown open, adding, “I believe the right of the people to be heard should not be hindered. It is a basic, fundamental human right. I firmly believe that the voice of the people should not be subdued”.
The rise of social media has seen citizen journalism gain ground across the world, with leading and trusted traditional media resorting to citizen journalists for some breaking news. Duthiers was optimistic that this trend would continue because traditional and social media are moving towards a blend and would see both supporting each another.
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