Challenges and Prospects of Social Media on Mainstream Media Journalism Practices: The Case of Amhara TV Newsroom Department

This study's goal is to examine how social media could affect mainstream journalism methods, with a particular focus on Amhara TV Newsroom Department. The study looked at how frequently journalists use social media in the course of their work and how social media is altering journalists gather information and report their daily news and what the prospects and difficulties are for journalists exercising in the social media era. For the study, mixed research methods were used, with a survey questionnaire and in-depth interviews being used as specific methods for data collection. A total of 30 newsroom journalists were randomly selected to fill out the survey questionnaire.

Whereas eight media professionals, like chief editors, editors, and senior reporters, were purposefully selected for the in-depth interview to support the findings from the questionnaire. As a result, the findings from these sources of data revealed that journalists rated social media as very important in sourcing, processing, disseminating, and getting feedback for local news.

Moreover, the findings of this study reveal that the respondent believes social media presents both challenges and prospects. Serving as a means for agenda dissemination and source of agenda, information gathering and reporting, immediate feedback from audiences, and networking opportunities with professionals are among the opportunities. On the one hand, social media is challenging in terms of the overwhelming volume of information, the immediacy challenge, and the balance between speed and accuracy.

In sum, this study reveals that, despite acknowledging the significance of social media, neither journalists nor media organizations have fully utilized its potential. As a result, it requires appropriate instruction, focus, and leadership from media organizations, journalists, researchers, educational institutions, and decision-makers.

Keywords: Social media, Mainstream Journalism, Journalistic Practice, Amhara TV newsroom, Challenges, Prospects of Social Media. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements 

ABSTRACT 

List of Tables

List of Charts 

Abbreviations and Acronyms 

CHAPTER ONE 

1 INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Background of the study 

1.2 Statement of the problem 

1.3 Objectives of the study 

1.3.1 General objective of the Study 

1.3.1 Specific objectives of the study 

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Significance of the Study 

1.6 Scope of the Study

1.7 Limitations of the Study 

CHAPTER TWO 

2 Literature Review 

2.1 Understanding Social Media 

2.1.1 The Rise of Social Media 

2.1.2 Social Media: Definitions 

2.2 Social Media and Journalism 

2.2.1 News and Social Media 

2.2.2 Social Media and Breaking News 

2.2.3 Journalists’ Use of Social Media 

2.3 Social Media and Journalistic Practice 

2.3.1 Social Media as an Alternative News-platform and Public Discourse 

2.3.2 Social Media as a Networked Journalism 

2.3.3 Social Media as sources of Agenda and/or Information 

2.3.4 Social Media as sources of News Sources and Knowledge 

2.4 The importance of Social Media for mainstream journalism Practitioners’ 

2.5 The Impact of Social Media on Mainstream Media functions 

2.6 Social Media and global journalism Ethics 

2.8 Social Media as Sources of Feedback 

2.9 Social Media for news development 

2.10 Challenges of Social Media (Social Media as challenges of Mainstream Media) 

2.10.1 Challenges in News Gathering, Reporting and Getting Audience 

2.10.2 Challenges in News Verification, Credibility and Trust 

2.11 Journalism Evolution and norms of practice 

2.12 Evolution of media in terms of practice and platform 

2.14 Theoretical frameworks of the study 

2.14.1 New Media Theory 

2.14.2 Agenda setting theory 

CHAPTER THREE 

Introduction 

3.1 Research Design 

3.2 Instruments of Data Collection 

3.2.1 Questionnaire 

3.2.2 In-depth interviews 

3.3 Methods of Data Analysis 

CHAPTER FOUR 

4.1 Respondent’s Demographic Background 

4.2 Respondents' Social Media preference 

4.4 Respondents' frequency to visit Social Media tools account 

4.3 Journalist Embrace Social Media tools as Part of Journalism 

4.6 Journalist’s use of Social Media information for journalistic works 

Table 5 use of Social Media information for journalistic works 

4.7 The awareness of journalists regarding the impact of social media on journalism practice 

4.9 Respondent’s view how Social Media have changed the way journalists work 

Table 8 how Social Media have changed the way journalists work 

4.10 Journalists answer what content they read or follow on Social media. 

4.11 Journalist’s rate on social media for helping daily activities in the sourcing, processing and disseminating

Table 10 social media for helping daily activities in the sourcing, processing and disseminating

4.12 Journalist’s use of social media for feedback 

4.13 The respondent's confidence in the data obtained via social media 

4.14 Respondent’s working on different platform to increase journalism professional

knowledge or skill 

Table 13 increase journalism professional knowledge or skill =

4.15 Respondent’s consideration about media convergence =

4.16 Journalist’s respond on Prospects while incorporating Social Media tools for journalism practice 

4.16.1 Helps for agenda setting 

4.16.2 Role for Information gathering and disseminating 

4.16.3 to get sources/evidences for investigation 

4.16.4 Role for obtaining feedback from the audience/interaction 

4.17 Journalist’s respond on Challenges while incorporating Social Media tools for journalism practice 

4.17.1 The proliferation of fake news and misinformation 

4.17.2 The overwhelming volume of information 

4.17.3 The immediacy challenge 

4.17.4 The Balance between speed and accuracy 

CHAPTER FIVE 

5 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation 

5.1 Summary and Findings 

5.2 Conclusion 

5.3 Recommendations 

References 

APPENDIX A 

APPENDIX B 

APPENDIX C