1.1 Introduction
Social media refers to digital platforms that allow users to create, share, receive, and interact with information and other forms of content. In journalism, social media journalism involves using platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for the production, dissemination, and consumption of news (Hendrickx & Opgenhaffen, 2024). News gathering refers to the process of identifying, sourcing, verifying, and collecting information for news reports, while news dissemination involves distributing completed news stories to the public through appropriate media channels. Social media has therefore become an important part of the modern news process because journalists can obtain information from eyewitnesses, public officials, organisations, and other online sources within a short period.
The growth of social media has changed the traditional approach to journalism by making news gathering faster and more interactive. Journalists can monitor online discussions, identify emerging events, contact sources, receive photographs and videos, and obtain immediate reactions from members of the public. Social media also provides opportunities for citizen journalism, where individuals who witness events share information directly with the public.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the aim and objectives of the study. Others are significance of the study, scope of work, research hypothesis and questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Historically, social media in news gathering and dissemination is closely connected with the development of the internet and digital communication. Before the emergence of social media, news gathering depended mainly on reporters, news agencies, newspapers, radio, and television. Journalists usually obtained information through interviews, press conferences, official statements, personal contacts, and direct observation. News was then processed by media organisations and delivered to audiences through scheduled broadcasts or printed publications. According to Boyd and Ellison (2007), the development of social networking sites created online spaces where users could establish connections, share information, and interact with one another.
The early development of online journalism created the foundation for the later use of social media in news production. Newspapers and other traditional media organisations began creating websites to reach audiences beyond their physical locations. Kperogi (2012) reported that Nigerian newspapers had increasingly moved their content to the internet while maintaining their traditional print editions. The growth of online journalism meant that news could be updated more frequently and accessed by audiences from different locations. It also created opportunities for independent online publishers and citizen journalists to participate in news production.
In journalism, social media has become an important channel through which journalists discover stories, communicate with sources, monitor public reactions, obtain eyewitness accounts, and distribute news to audiences. According to Hermida (2010), social media has introduced new forms of participation into journalism by allowing members of the public to contribute information and interact with news organizations (Hermida, 2010). News gathering involves the identification, collection, confirmation, and processing of information for journalistic purposes, while news dissemination involves making verified information available to the intended audience through appropriate media channels. The emergence of social media has made these activities faster and more accessible. Similarly, Newman et al. (2024) reported that digital platforms have become increasingly important to the way people discover and consume news, with social networks serving as significant channels for news distribution.
Westlund and Ekström (2018) reported that the integration of digital technologies into journalism has changed established routines of news production and encouraged journalists to work with information from a wider range of sources. Social media provides journalists with access to individuals who may have direct knowledge of an event, thereby increasing the possibility of obtaining information that may not immediately be available through conventional channels. In the same vein, Zhang and Li (2020) stated that journalists use social media for both news sourcing and verification, with social media sometimes complementing traditional sources and, in some situations, replacing them. This shows that social media is not only a platform for publishing completed stories but is also increasingly involved in the early stages of the news production process.
The use of social media for news gathering is also associated with citizen journalism. Members of the public who witness an event may record photographs, videos, or written accounts and share them online before professional journalists arrive at the scene. Diakopoulos et al. (2012) reported that journalists may use social media to identify emerging events, locate potential sources, and gather information that supports the development of news stories.
This study is set against the backdrop of the growing reliance on social media for news gathering and dissemination and the need to determine whether its increasing use is producing effective and responsible journalistic practice.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that social media has become an important source of news for journalists because it provides quick access to information, eyewitness reports, pictures, videos, and public reactions. However, some information shared on these platforms is incomplete, unverified, or misleading, making it difficult for journalists to separate reliable information from false reports. On the other hand, journalists face pressure to gather and publish news quickly because audiences expect immediate updates.
Furthermore, poor internet connectivity, inadequate digital skills, privacy concerns, copyright issues, and unreliable sources may limit effective use of social media for news gathering and dissemination (Omosotomhe & Olley, 2018). It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the effectiveness of social media in news gathering and dissemination.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of social media in news gathering and dissemination.
The specific objectives of this research are to:
- Examine the extent to which journalists use social media for news gathering;
- Determine the effectiveness of social media in improving the speed of news dissemination;
- Assess the influence of social media on the coverage and audience reach of news;
- Examine the challenges journalists face when using social media for news gathering and dissemination; and
- Determine the strategies used by journalists to improve the reliability and effectiveness of social media news.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- To what extent do journalists use social media for news gathering?
- How effective is social media in improving the speed of news dissemination?
- What influence does social media have on the coverage and audience reach of news?
- What challenges do journalists face when using social media for news gathering and dissemination?
- What strategies are used by journalists to improve the reliability and effectiveness of social media news?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Social media use has no significant effect on news gathering among journalists.
- H1: Social media use has a significant effect on news gathering among journalists.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Social media has no significant effect on the speed of news dissemination.
- H1: Social media has a significant effect on the speed of news dissemination.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: Social media has no significant influence on news coverage and audience reach.
- H1: Social media has a significant influence on news coverage and audience reach.
Hypothesis Four
- H0: Challenges associated with social media use have no significant effect on news gathering and dissemination.
- H1: Challenges associated with social media use have a significant effect on news gathering and dissemination.
Hypothesis Five
- H0: Strategies for improving social media use have no significant effect on the reliability and effectiveness of social media news.
- H1: Strategies for improving social media use have a significant effect on the reliability and effectiveness of social media news.
1.7 Significance of Study
The outcome of this research will provide factual information on how social media is being used by journalists for gathering and disseminating news. Also, Journalists will benefit from information on the common challenges associated with sourcing, verifying, and publishing information obtained through social media.
Furthermore, media organisations will benefit from evidence on the usefulness of social media for improving news speed, coverage, audience reach, and interaction. It will also provide a basis for improving responsible use of digital platforms in daily news work.
Lastly, media studies students and researchers will benefit from the study as it will provide information for academic work on social media journalism, digital news production, and contemporary news dissemination in Nigeria.
1.8 Scope of Study
This study focuses on the effectiveness of social media in news gathering and dissemination in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Uyo, as the study organisation.
The study covers journalists and relevant news personnel who use platforms such as Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms for sourcing, verifying, publishing, and sharing news.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Effectiveness:
Effectiveness refers to the extent to which an activity or system achieves its intended purpose. In this study, effectiveness refers to how well social media supports journalists in gathering, processing, and disseminating news.
Social Media:
Social media refers to internet-based platforms that allow users to create, share, receive, and interact with information and other content (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). In this study, social media refers to platforms such as Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok used for journalistic activities.
News:
News refers to information about recent events or issues considered relevant and important to the public. In this study, news refers to verified information gathered and prepared for public consumption by journalists.
News Gathering:
News gathering is the process through which journalists identify, obtain, investigate, and verify information for news reporting. According to Hermida (2010), social media has created new opportunities for journalists to monitor information and identify developing stories. In this study, news gathering includes searching social media platforms, contacting sources, monitoring events, and collecting relevant information.
News Dissemination:
News dissemination refers to the process of distributing news reports to an audience through communication channels. In this study, it refers to the publication and sharing of news through social media and other media platforms.
Journalist:
A journalist is a person professionally involved in collecting, verifying, writing, editing, and presenting information for public communication. In this study, the term refers to media personnel involved in news gathering and dissemination.
Social Media Journalism:
Social media journalism refers to the use of social networking and digital platforms in the production, distribution, and discussion of news. According to Hermida, Lewis, and Zamith (2014), social media has become part of the changing relationship between journalists, news organisations, and audiences.
Citizen Journalism:
Citizen journalism refers to the participation of ordinary members of the public in collecting, recording, sharing, or reporting information about events. According to Allan (2013), digital technologies have created opportunities for citizens to contribute to news production.
News Source:
A news source is a person, organisation, document, event, or platform from which a journalist obtains information for a news report. In this study, social media users, official accounts, eyewitnesses, organisations, and online publications are considered possible news sources.
News Verification:
News verification is the process of checking information to determine whether it is accurate, reliable, and suitable for publication. According to Brandtzaeg et al. (2016), verification is particularly important when journalists obtain information from social media because online content may contain false or misleading claims.
Audience Reach:
Audience reach refers to the number or range of people who receive or access a news report. In this study, it refers to the extent to which social media enables news organisations to reach audiences beyond their traditional geographical boundaries.
Social Media Platform:
A social media platform is an online service that allows users to create, share, distribute, and interact with content. Examples relevant to this study include Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.
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