Twitter turned 10 earlier this year, and its impact has forever changed communication and the media landscape. Did you turn on the TV to find out what was happening in Orlando, or did you simply hop on your phone? My guess is that you learned about it early Sunday morning, most likely on a social media platform. To keep up with the events as they unfolded, you may have turned to Twitter, Facebook, or Reddit. Social media has forever changed the way we obtain news; it has become so pervasive in our lives that there is a whole generation of people who will always perceive the keyboard pound sign as a hashtag.
Newspapers Are Out, and Everyone Is a Journalist
According to a recent analysis from Pew Research, weekday circulation for newspapers fell 7 percent and Sunday circulation fell 4 percent – the greatest declines since 2010. Newspaper ad revenues also experienced the biggest drop since 2009, falling nearly 8 percent. People aren’t reading newspapers or watching the evening news, because they can get immediate news on social media, with every eyewitness becoming an instant broadcaster during the moment. Breaking news often hits social media before being broadcast by the media; it’s how we heard and even watched the sit-in on Capitol Hill when the CSPAN camera feed was cut. Media interview rules haven’t changed; just the format for delivery.
Over Half of the U.S. Gets their News from Social Media
As every journalist and media outlet has discovered, it’s no longer enough to scoop the big story and publish the news; you must put it where consumers will read it – and that is on social media. Pew Research also illustrates that most of us – over 60 percent – obtain our news through social media platforms, with one in five Americans relying on social media for news almost exclusively. Edging out Twitter and Facebook for the most common social media source for news was Reddit; 70 percent of Reddit users get their news from the site, compared to 66 percent of Facebook users and 59 percent of Twitter users.
Social Media Impacts More than News
More than just news has been impacted by social media. Social media has changed communication in numerous ways. A single post or hashtag can make you famous (or infamous), cost you a job, or create a movement. We are connected to people through our common interests on social media as much as we are by our proximity. And if you want to successfully communicate with and attract millennial talent to your organization, social media is an essential part of the communication strategy that you’ll need to successfully reach them.
Franchetti Communications delivers accelerated results by designing power-packed media interview and presentation training sessions around your unique goals, in person and via teleconference. Franchetti Communications works with corporations and business leaders to develop communication strategy, messaging, and PR strategy. Follow Franchetti Communications on LinkedIn, and be sure to download our special report: 6 Ways to Guarantee Your Message Cuts Through the Clutter.