Social Media and the News

Social media is dramatically changing the way that society gets the news, and how reporters give it. Networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter are now far beyond the simple social tool they were once created to be. 
They are now being used by news stations to deliver the latest news. Consumers must now sift through the tweets and posts to find the credible sources. 
Reporters are feeling the pressure as well because information can be leaked within seconds causing even more conflicts to arise.
Jeanine L'Ecuyer, journalist and former Director of Communications and Press Security for the Governor of Arizona, knows the effect that the media plays in the news. She visited the University of Oklahoma to share her experience and further explain her involvement in the Arizona prison hostage situation of 2004. 

Jeanine L'Ecuyer at the University of Oklahoma PHOTO: Aubree Pearson

The conflict that had arose was two inmates had attempted to escape the prison but instead took two guards hostage. The woman had been brutally raped and the man had been abused severely. 
The inmates demanded media coverage but the government declined unless there was something given in return. 
The prison became a media camp ground and reporters were becoming desperate for information that they weren't able to get.
“The challenging aspect of this case for the media was that there was not a lot of information given,” L’Ecuyer said.

Jeanine L'Ecuyer at the University of Oklahoma PHOTO: Aubree Pearson

The hostage situation ended after fifteen days and many negotiations and both of the hostages survived.

Although, social media was around during this time it had not exploded into the media outlet that it serves as today. She explains that having control over the information that was given to the public ultimately saved lives.
However, she also said that these tools could be used to the governments advantage.

“If I was doing this today, I would go straight to Twitter and release as much as I can from the Governor’s office,” she said.
A new report released from Philanthropy News Digest says, "By 2015, technology and social networks will change the way people organize."
The report also says that the use of these social media sources will force a transparency in the government. 
Like in the Arizona prison hostage situation, social networking could contribute to the release of information that could make things worse. However, according to an article released by Mashable.com called "How Social Media is Radically Changing the Newsroom" new rules are being instated by newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. The article states:

“When it comes to Twittering for The Post, our senior editors should know beforehand if a reporter plans to Twitter or otherwise live-blog something she is covering. Anything controversial should be checked with an editor before transmission. Tone is also important: we don’t use new media to get into verbal fisticuffs with rivals or critics or to advance personal agendas. That said, we very much encourage our journalists to experiment with new ways of serving our audience,” E&P quoted the Post policy as saying.

Newspapers and reporters are now taking the necessary means to control information on the new social media tools so that they can be used to the publics positive advantage.