TV stations are now flocking to Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media. An RTDNA/Hofstra study finds that 76 percent of responding stations now have some form of social media initiative integrated on their websites. 68 percent incorporate social media into their storytelling. The always insightful Bob Papper, Hofstra Chair of Journalism, says that just a year ago, 36 percent of stations said they weren’t using social media; that number has now fallen to nine percent. From the RTDNA press release:
Several dozen stations also noted using Twitter, Facebook and the station website to help develop tips, story leads and contacts. Most of the stations said that reporters and anchors are tweeting, and quite a few stations said in addition to the station Facebook account, they also have accounts for newscasts.
There is more to Facebook and Twitter than getting leads. These need to be part of the two-way continuous news process, where news and information is posted that will be of interest to those decidedly different audiences.
