Mashable: Social networks are replacing traditional news media – data infographic

In recent years, since the rise of social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Google+, many people have gradually shifted their news sources from traditional news media to social networks, especially breaking news events, which are usually spread quickly through the power of the community. Mashable has produced an infographic to reflect the change in breaking news sources.

With the development of social media, many people pay close attention to information on social networks. More and more news is not broadcast on traditional television media by full-time, amateur and local reporters, but spreads on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. For example, the capture and death of Osama bin Laden, the accidental death of Whitney Houston, and the emergency landing of an American Airlines flight on the Hudson River were all posted by ordinary people on Twitter and then spread to the whole world.
In addition to the development of social networks, the income of online news websites has also surpassed that of traditional newspapers. However, this type of online news that emphasizes instant and fast delivery also hides a trap: fake news is prone to appear. Nearly 50% of viewers in the United States have read news on social networking sites and online news, and later found out that the source of the news was fake.
The following infographic shared by the Mashable website was produced by the online education organization Schools.com in collaboration with the Washington Post, the Pew Research Center and Reuters, examining the current situation where social networks dominate the news industry.

Social media is gradually replacing traditional news media:

• More than 50% of users consume breaking news through social networks, which is higher than traditional news sources.
• 46% of people watch news online more than three times a week.
• In 2012, online news revenue surpassed traditional newspaper revenue.

Where do people get their news most often?

• TV News: 59.5%
• Newspaper: 28.8%
• Social Media: 27.8%
• Radio News: 18.8%
• Other printed publications: 6.0%
• Others: 5.9%

Percentage of news appearing on social networks:

• Facebook: 59.5%
• Twitter: 19.9%
• YouTube: 12.7%
• Google+: 11.6%
• Other:42.8%

Since 2009, the frequency of traffic jams caused by sharing news on social networks has increased by 57%, and another 9% of adults often get news through Facebook and Twitter on digital devices.

8 breaking news stories via social networks:

• Egyptian Uprising, Facebook
• Protesters killed in Bahrain, YouTube
• American Airlines plane crashes in Hudson River, Twitter
• Hilary Clinton won't be in a 2nd term Obama cabinet, Twitter
• Announcement of the royal wedding, Twitter
• Whitney Houston's death, Twitter
• Newt Gingrich running for US president, Twitter
• Osama bin Laden raid and death, Twitter

The first person to tweet about Osama bin Laden's death was his next-door neighbor. He originally complained about the noise next door on Twitter, but unknowingly posted one of the biggest news stories of the decade.

Pros of social networking:

• direct.
• Anyone can report the news.
• Stories spread fast.
• Cell phones can go into many places that television cameras cannot reach, such as courtrooms.

Disadvantages of social networks (Cons):

• You can only tell a story in 140 characters (Twitter).
• Inaccurate and may deviate from the facts.
• Journalistic integrity may be compromised.
• Amateur journalists may harm themselves or others in their pursuit of news.

Audience trust, who is the most trusted news anchor in the United States?

• Jim Lehrer (PBS NewsHour): 66%
• Brian Williams (NBC Nightly News): 66%

Online news sources are not entirely reliable. 49.1% of the public heard breaking news on social networks, but the source turned out to be fake. Fast does not mean it is true. When you see news on social networks, be sure to double-check to confirm the authenticity of the source.

Text/T客邦 Article and image source: mashable