In an age of social media, the way in which news is selected and distributed is changing rapidly. In this new digital age, audiences are increasingly involved in the selection of stories and influencing journalists’ decisions. Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are influencing the selection of stories, and audience recommendations and shares of stories are now commonplace.
Reporting of current events
The Common Core Standards for reporting of current events include the differentiation between fact and opinion. This helps develop students’ critical thinking and analytical skills. Generally, students are asked to record at least five facts from an article and then apply their knowledge of the facts to formulate an opinion. This requirement sets a firm foundation for identifying the difference between fact and opinion in text.
Shareability
The shareability of news is a key measurement of how influential a news story is. Stories that are widely shared receive more attention than stories that are not. For example, stories about coups tend to be shared more widely than those about celebrities.
Impact
Various researches have found that news channels can have a significant impact on society. They can improve the lives of people by raising their awareness about the world and promoting a sense of community. Moreover, positive news stories can motivate people to become active participants in society.
Accuracy
The quality of news can be improved by shifting the user’s attention from the source of the news to the accuracy of that information. This can reduce the spread of misinformation, and in turn, reduce the likelihood that people will believe it. Online media platforms are highly networked, making it easy for people to share information that may not be true. Hence, reducing the amount of misinformation shared online can help prevent the spread of such misinformation.
Originality
The need for original content has long been a concern for journalists. However, the pressure to publish news quickly and accurately makes it difficult to stay away from plagiarism. In particular, the practice of patchwriting, where a reporter attempts to paraphrase a source, but uses too much of the original author’s vocabulary and syntax, has become an issue for professional journalists.
Reliability
News sources today are more varied than ever, and consumers can now access a variety of news sources. However, some of these sources may not be as reliable as others. To help consumers better understand which news sources are reliable, the Center for News Literacy has compiled a list of news sources that are most reliable.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence is a crucial factor in maintaining a wide range of views in a community. Regional Australian news is different from metropolitan news, in part because it focuses on community information rather than influencing opinions. As such, it is difficult to imagine that local television and radio stations in country towns should be regulated the same way as those in the capital cities.
Journalism as a profession
As a profession, journalism focuses on informing the public and creating awareness about public affairs. A journalist works within a team and frequently works under deadlines. This requires that the person plan for their schedule as well as the schedule of others within and outside the organization.
Professional ethics
Journalists have an ethical obligation to seek out and report the truth. This means seeking out all relevant facts and corroborating them with multiple sources. They should also avoid taking sides and pursuing special interests. They must disclose any conflict of interest to their readers and editors. Moreover, they must maintain the dignity and confidentiality of the sources they use.