Social Networking in the Media

The new fad in the media is the use of websites like facebook, twitter, and wikipedia as resources for current event coverage. The reliability of the information from these social networking sites can be called into question, so news sources often say that this information is “unverified.” If the information cannot be verified then why should it be published? It is the job of the journalist to present the public with true information which seems to be at risk with the use of these websites as sources.

There are some cases in which the media could successfully use these websites but not to retrieve information. Over the last three days Rhode Island has been battered by severe rain storms, resulting in statewide flooding. Governor Donald Carcieri says, “It has been the worst, worst flood in our state's history.” Media outlets such as CNN and Fox News should use the social networking sites to get opinions on issues or to gain support for certain causes rather than trying to piece together a story by peoples recollections that have very little accountability if any. In the case of the Rhode Island flooding, facebook or twitter could be a good way to get some personal stories or opinions on what has happened to people living in areas affected.

Cheryl Phillips, a writer for Examiner.com, was upset with the amount of support that has been given to the people of Rhode Island by the rest of the country. She thinks it’s great that the country is willing to donate so much time and money to Haiti to help support the earthquake victims but she asks “who takes care of the people who are right here?” So many people used facebook and twitter to help the cause in Haiti but not too much has been done to help our fellow American citizens in Rhode Island. There aren’t any celebrities that are going out of their way to draw the attention of the public to the events in Rhode Island like they did for Haiti.

If a person were to go on to facebook to find groups supporting the disaster in Haiti, they might find hundreds of groups but not many for Rhode Island flood victims that most likely will not be covered under insurance. It is also important to note how quickly the wikipedia page went up for the Haitian Earthquake in 2010 and no wikipedia page has been published for the worst flood in Rhode Island state history. Is a change needed in the media or in our own mindsets and how we perceive the media through social networking?