Social media has reshaped and transformed the speed of news delivery, according to ABC executive producer Michael Reid.
Mr Reid today told Macleay College journalism students new media platforms were as relevant to journalists as the general public.
“Whilst Facebook and Twitter are famous for interacting with individuals, they’re also useful mediums for producing breaking news,” he said.
Mr Reid advised students to use platforms like Tweetdeck to find breaking news.
“Social media should be used to seek fresh news,” he said.
“It gives you an idea of how quickly things have changed … but print media and television will always come second to social media – this is where (the) majority of the news breaks.”
Mr Reid also said accuracy was vital when producing quality news and sourcing was essential to guard against misrepresentation and defamation.
“Check your sources before writing a news story,” he said,
“The way you source media is really important to us now.” But with the new technology comes increased competition, according to Mr Reid.
He said social media made citizen journalism easier, with a single smartphone able to capture and quickly upload breaking news.
“Public opinions could help shape the news in the future,” he said. – Soheir Adas
Top photo from Ben Atkinson-James
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