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Sharing the StageAnalysis of social media adoption by Latin American journalistsMagdalena Saldaa University of Texas at Austin

Rosental Calmon AlvesUniversity of Texas at Austin

Vanessa de Macedo Higgins Joyce Texas State University

Amy Schmitz Weiss San Diego State University1Context @magdalenasaldan

2Context @magdalenasaldan

3Context @magdalenasaldan

4Context @magdalenasaldan

5Research questions@magdalenasaldan

RQ1: how are journalists in Latin America employing these platforms, and for what purposes?6Research questions@magdalenasaldan

Social media have proved to be effective news disseminators during key newsworthy moments

Professional practices such as fact-checking are hard to maintain during major real-time events, yielding to the pressure of instant updates

When in-depth analysis and long-term research are more important than constant updates and in situ sources, what is the potential of social media?7Research questions@magdalenasaldan

A new generation of investigative journalists is incorporating techniques with the power of the participatory audience, with crowd-sourcing and perhaps even more commonly, with social media.

H1: Social media use for journalism purposes increases the practice of investigative journalism. 8Research questions@magdalenasaldan

Several scholars have pointed that social media are directly challenging journalists gatekeeping role

Through the use of social media platforms, audiences are able to provide first-hand information to journalists and news organizations (Hermida, 2010, 2012).

How do journalists assign importance to the information obtained from others?9Research questions@magdalenasaldan

H2: Social media use for journalism increases perceived reliability of online information and online sources.

RQ2: What demographic characteristics enhance social media use for journalism among Latin American journalists?10

Methods

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Methods

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Methods

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Methods

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Methods

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RQ1a How are Latin American journalists using social media platforms?16MeanSDTo keep up with the news4.81.3To find ideas/sources for news stories4.01.4To keep in touch with family/friends3.61.8To write/discuss about daily life events3.41.5To publicize your own work3.31.6To find entertainment/distraction2.01.3On a scale from 1 to 6, where 1=last use and 6=main use

RQ1b For what purposes?@magdalenasaldan

17RQ1b For what purposes?keeping up with the news publicizing ones own workfinding ideas/sources for news storieskeeping up with the news(inversely) publicizing ones own workpublicizing ones own work

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18NH1 Social media use for journalism increases the practice of investigative journalism

To find ideas for news storiesTo find sources for news storiesTo receive peoples feedbackTo find out what people talk about No relationship. H1 not supportedOn a scale from 1 to 7, where 1=Not at all and 7=All the time@magdalenasaldan

19H2 Social media use for journalism increases perceived reliability of online information and online sourcesPositive relationship. H2 supportedOn a scale from 1 to 7, where 1=Not reliable at all and 7=Very reliable@magdalenasaldan

20RQ2 What demographic characteristics enhance social media use for journalism?@magdalenasaldan

-Gender-Age -Years working -News organization -Geographic scope-Home country-Social media usability

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26RQ2 What demographic characteristics enhance social media use for journalism?@magdalenasaldan

-Gender (n.s.)-Age (n.s.)-Years working (n.s.)-Geographic scope (n.s.)-News organization (online, cable) -Home country (Brazil)-Social media usability (Yes)

27Conclusions@magdalenasaldan

The use of certain platforms leads to more journalism-related uses, while some others lead to social-related uses (Twitter versus Facebook).

Journalists are able to share (at least to some extent) their role as gatekeepers with other users, not necessarily journalists or news organizations.

Journalists are using social media platforms in a systematic way, based on the belief that those platforms are a positive contribution to the daily work. 28Why is this important?@magdalenasaldan

How journalists use social media tools for journalism-related tasks in U.S. and European contexts.

Previous studies dont link the platforms with their actual uses.

We see a shift in the practice of journalism where social media platforms are becoming legitimized venues for sourcing and reportage.

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