Abstract
In recent years, mainstream media coverage has integrated mobile social networking and micro-blogging tools such as Facebook and Twitter. These interactive communication channels have transformed our interpersonal relationships as well as our links with organizations and content including news and entertainment. In particular, our experience of the news has become mediated through these platforms. These tools have transformed one-way transmission channels into two-way interactive media. While there has been significant discussion of the role of online forums, listservs and blogs as arenas for democratic participation and citizen journalism, there has been less analysis of how micro-blogging social networking tools are transforming the social practices around news and information. Drawing on James Carey’s ritual view of communications, this chapter will analyze the role of these tools in the experience of our daily lives as well as our consumption of news and participation in significant media events of our time. First, this chapter will describe the changing habits of individual users in their daily news rituals. Second, this chapter will describe the ways in which news is represented on Facebook and Twitter as well as how these channels are reintegrated with mainstream media broadcasts. Third, this chapter will describe the use of CNN’s Facebook plug-in during political media events such as the 2008 Presidential election and the Obama inauguration in 2009. Finally, this chapter will recommend future directions for the use of mobile social networking in mainstream media coverage.
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Forlano, L. (2010). Mobile Social Networking and the News. In: Einav, G. (eds) Transitioned Media. The Economics of Information, Communication and Entertainment. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6099-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6099-3_6
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