The News Industry vs. Twitter and Facebook?
February 13th, 2010
Very interesting post on Web Pro News discusses the possibility that Facebook and Twitter could threaten the News Industry.
I’ve pointed out several times on this blog when Twitter or Facebook was the first or only source of news of a certain event. I think this will continue to happen just by the very nature of mobile media. When the people involved or near a news worthy event, they are going to Tweet it or put it on thier Facebook status. This happens millions of times a day, and yes, I can see this as something of a threat to the traditional news industry. Especially in places like Iran when traditional media outlets have been blocked from the country.
While I can totally see social media networks being the fastest at reporting, I don’t think they yet have to greatest capability for getting news out to the masses. Yes, news items, especially hot topics will be tweeted and retweeted, and word can spread very fast, but they’re not going to replace television crews any time soon. Nor will they replace newspapers for some of the more mundane local happenings. Newspapers still serve a purpose when it comes to local news, at least and will for the time being. As social media grows up, I do see national events being reported and sought after more on social networks than in actual paper copies of any newspaper.
Another aspect of this is credibility. Whatever opinions we may have about mainstream media, we do have good reason to expect some level of accuracy and fact checking. There are standards for this that newspapers, for instance, live by. However, with Social, there is no such requirement. I think this will slow the pace at which we actually believe significant news that we receive via Social Media.
There is a debate going on over at Web Pro News, pretty interesting… check it out. But tell me, do you think Social Media is outpacing traditional media in terms of first reporting to the masses? Personally, I still like the “paper” paper.
