Social media lets everyone share news and opinions. Journalism focuses on facts to inform the public. They seem like opposites, but can they work together? 

When I picture social media and journalism in my mind, I see an intense game of chess. On one side sits a confident player, unbothered by the next move and steering the game to their advantage; meet social media. On the other side sits a stressed-out player, trying to keep up with the moves; meet journalism.

The game of chess

Social media has completely shaken up the old rules of journalism. Today, anyone can break news on social media, often faster than journalists can keep up. This change has completely redefined what it means to “break” a story, leaving traditional media struggling to catch up.

Journalists no longer get to decide what the biggest story of the day is; society does. Whatever people share online goes viral, grabs attention, and gets heard. It’s all about that instant information. We want to stay updated, constantly checking platforms like TikTok, X, and Threads, mindlessly scrolling all day long. Can you picture journalism sweating at the chess table, trying to stay ahead?

A perfect example of this is the death of Liam Payne. I remember scrolling through X late at night on October 16th and seeing random users posting the news. I was shocked. But it really showed how social media has changed the way we break news. It took what felt like forever for official news outlets to confirm Liam’s death. Once again, social media was ahead of journalism.

LIAM PAYNE DIED?

— lea chin-sang (@bigfatmoosepssy) October 16, 2024

Checkmate

Not quite. Just when social media thinks it’s won, journalism plays its trump card: facts.

The night Liam died, I saw the rumor on social media first, but I still waited for confirmation from reliable news sources. Speed is social media’s strength, but journalism’s power lies in its reliability. While anyone can post anything online, journalism filters the noise and delivers the truth amid the chaos.

Enemies or allies?

So, do they shake hands at the chess table? I think they should. Social media may have flipped journalism’s world upside down, but there is potential for collaboration.

Social media lets journalism tap into real-time conversations and fact-check viral gossip. In return, journalism brings the credibility and truth that social media often lacks. So in the future, when scrolling through social media, make sure you always verify news shared by users with reliable newspapers to ensure its accuracy.

From enemies to lovers? Well, if it’s up to me – absolutely.

Text: Danaë Ruyts
Featured Image: Vlada Karpovich via Pexels