What are the advantages of social media for journalists?
LB: The biggest advantage is the new access to both information and to people. Things like real-time search allow journalists to find new sources and hear about new developments quicker than ever before. With much of the world on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., journalists are able to develop much more complex Rolodexes and can get access to a wider range of sources. They can monitor online conversations to help them keep an eye on what’s happening in their area. It’s easier to promote content to the right audience and to use social tools to push it and get more eyes on it. Journalists also have more platforms to publish content and aren’t tied to a “page” like – Twitter, YouTube, etc. There really are a great number of advantages for journalists in social media if they’re savvy enough about using them. What are the drawbacks? LB: The drawbacks, in some ways, are the same as the advantages. * With the flood of constant information, it creates an incredible amount of noise, which can
