How, you ask? Read on as
media update's Robyn du Preez briefly elaborates on this:
Social media provides a multichannel approach for publishers.
What this means is that journalists now have more than one platform through which they can communicate information.
They help reach a larger and more diverse audience.
Various users are active on each platform. If you post the news according to each platform's audience, you reach a larger targeted audience.
The platforms accommodate varying formats of the same news.
You can inform your audiences of the
same information in various ways, making it resonate with different people.
They allow the instantaneous sharing of information with networked users.
News can be shared as soon as you'd like it to be.
The platforms assist with reputation management and growth.
Instant posts and networking opportunities allow publishers to handle reputation crises and follower growth effectively.
Social platforms give room for multiple voices to join in on the conversation.
Readers can reshare, interact with, or even comment on the news shared — giving them a voice that is audible within the space.
The public has a say in what is distributed.
Information can be shared by readers. This impacts what news is prioritised and requires attention by the masses at large.
What other ways do you think social media positively impacts the journalism industry? Let us know in the comments.
We now know that social media benefits journos all round, but how important is it to use within this industry? To find out, check out The importance of social media in journalism.
*Image courtesy of Canva