ORGANIZATIONAL media, such as newspapers and broadcast networks, should not compete against social media in the latter’s turf because it is not their field of specialization.
“Social media thrives on sensationalism and gossip,” said David Nye, senior editor at the Beijing-based Global Times in a forum on August 29. “It cannot compete with organizational media because [the latter] is factual, rational and substantial.”
Furthermore, Nye said organizational media is “more superior, as it has the gravitas, depth and knowledge that can enlighten and bring awareness to readers and viewers.”
The former China Central Television 9 International news presenter and reporter reminded the local media that “social media is a chaotic limitless arena” and pointed that users of social media to be more discerning in harnessing it for gathering information.
“Let’s face it, there is a lot of garbage out there. I have never seen more garbage than I have in this information age,” Nye said. “You must know how to harness it.”
According to Nye, social media has a million and one narratives and media practitioners “should know which one to harness.” Nye said it is going to be a challenge to advise the millennials to be more discerning on the use of social media because this group has been attached to the platform. He added that the responsibility of teaching the millennials to be more critical must be handled by more knowledgeable people.
In an earlier interview by e-mail with the BusinessMirror, Rachel E. Khan said social-media tools, such as crowdsourcing, is not the most accurate tool for news gathering. Nevertheless, Khan, associate professor at the College of Mass Communications at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, pointed out that crowdsourcing is only useful when a journalist wants to pursue leads and clues in a story.
“If the story is in need of an expert opinion, then the journalists should go after the ‘expert’ in the traditional manner of reporting,” she said. “For one thing, how will you determine the credibility of the source? How do you separate the legitimate source from the trolls?”
Khan also urged bloggers to tackle the bigger issues in blogging, such as “ranging from plagiarism to paid propaganda, disguised as ‘unpaid for’ opinion or news.”
She also cautioned the sources to be media savvy to determine if the blogger should be given the proper recognition.
Nye said the Philippine media must stop “going pedestrian,” not only against social media, but the traditional media, as well. He added local media must go to the level of international media to gain world-class status.
“Al Jazeera and the British Broadcasting Corp. are the two models to emulate.”
Nye also blamed the introduction of Taglish in local television stations’ news programs in the country that he said resulted to poor intelligence and awareness levels of viewers.
“It is not just the language but also the thinking that has suffered,” he said. “The use of pure language shows how disciplined your mind is.”