social media and the news

When I went to bed last night, my twitter feed was erupting with news on Libya. As of this morning, the list has increased to include New Zealand and Bahrain. This information is not coming from news outlets or journalists or even professional photographers. I am getting this information from British indie musicians who pay attention to the news, a Young Adult author who has readers in these countries who are contacting him, and from videos that break my heart. These are things being filmed and reported from people in the action as it's happening.

Thanks to Twitter, I even have a GoogleMap of the violence against protesters in Libya.

Let me be honest here. 5, 7 years ago this wouldn't have registered on my radar. I didn't watch the news because it was slanted toward a conservative Christian audience in Arkansas, and I didn't read the newspapers like the New York Times because I didn't think they'd be relevant to what was happening in my hometown.

Luckily, I grew up and out of that sentiment. Although most adults in Arkansas still abide by those rules, they are now being inundated with teenagers that are on these social sites, sites that are telling them this news with amateur photos and videos for proof. These things may not be professional quality, but they are eye opening.

Social media has made it so that we don't have to rely on reporters and photo journalists for news. In a way, this is good news. Ten years ago the protests in Libya would have taken forever to reach the newspapers in my home state. By the time they heard about it, it would have been more of a history-retelling. Now they have the opportunity to get this news quickly, if they wish it.

The bad part is that we're still as uninterested in what's happening in other countries as we've ever been. We are self-involved, and social media allows us to focus on that if we choose. I don't have to follow the young adult author or the British indie musicians. I don't have to follow NPR and the New York Times. I choose to do that because I want to know more about what's happening in the world, including what's happening in the United States.

The good part about journalism is that the reporters know what to focus on. They know which events should be photographed and keep an ear open for possible stories at all times. At least ideally. They get the right sources and quote them and write at a level that the majority of the country understands. These are all good things.

I like Twitter. It helps me at least once a day to see outside myself. Facebook helps me connect with friends and family. Skype lets me talk to my brother in Afghanistan as he's fighting a war. Tumblr keeps me posted on pop culture trends (important for a YA author, I've found). Even Wikipedia has its good moments. But I am on the fence when it comes to how social media affects the news.

If you want a breakdown on the bare facts of what's happening in Africa and the Middle East, complete with links for explanation and exploration, try this post. (It's by one of the British guys, Tom Milsom.) The photo at the top is from this guy; it's Bahrain as this guy was leaving this morning. Also, if you have time, go see the the other British guy's website right now. It's erupting with Libya news. I'll leave you with this video taken from within a protest in Bahrain.