Importance of social media and why journalists should research before going public

These days, social networking has become common tool. Some people might gather information only on social networking sites, not on television or radio.

This essay discusses the importance of social networking and the research that journalists should do.

The best thing about social networking is that information is fast.

In Japan, there are a lot of earthquakes, and when there’s a big quake, people gather on X(ex Twitter). I am one of them because I want to where is epicentre.

My family lives far away from me and I want to know the epicentre of an earthquake when it happens, because it has been said that big earthquakes happen there for a long time. When an earthquake happens, I want to know its epicentre because its information will help me to determine whether my family is safe.

Afterwards, the government makes an official announcement of the epicentre, but above all, it is important for me to know quickly.

This fast is what is required of a social networking service, and is probably important for it to be a trendy social networking service.

However, one should not believe all the information that is flooding in one after another. Especially for journalists, who re-distribute information based on a social networking.

On social networking, while it is easy for anyone to post information, there is also a lot of information that is questionably corroborated.

Although a variety of social networking have emerged, it is clear that recipients will gauge the reliability of information based on whether it comes from a social networking service, television or radio, or whether it comes from an ordinary person or an official media account on the same social networking service.

Statements from journalists(media) that people place more trust in should be properly corroborated, which requires journalists to check whether there are true or not.

Although social networking sites are full of fascinating information, it will become more important for journalists to be truthful and ethical, not just attention-seeking.

Our lives have changed dramatically with the spread of social networking. We can now easily find out news from distant countries.

On the other hand, we also need to be able to discern whether the information is true or not.

This discernment will become even more important for journalists who convey information.

Yumi Watanuki is a journalism student.