twin – 1. one of two persons or things closely related to or resembling each other 2. paired in a close or necessary relationship

theorem – a general proposition not self-evident but proved by a chain of reasoning.

A more abstract approach on how we view the divide between two terms that are actually alike in quite a lot of ways. Instead of discussing their differences and putting them against each other in dynamic times like these I think we should look for an equilibrium and unity. And a good way to start is to acknowledge the striking similarities between the two in something I would like to call the “twin theorem”.

Many theorems go like this: If statement A is true and valid, then with some logical reasoning you reach the conclusion that statement B is also true.

Now, my statement A is that both terms are interconnected, closely relating to one another hence I’m referring to them as twins. Social medias are filled with journalistic content, such as news outlets making accounts on different apps and posting breaking news and promoting themselves so more people can engage with their content. Another example of that is independent journalism on social media apps. On the other hand, journalism incorporates social media into its networks so it can spread more efficiently amongst the masses of users on other media platforms.

You could say that the two are paired in a close or even necessary relationship. Both would not be quite the same without the other.

My statement B will logically follow the fact that in the new digital age, journalism has evolved to what it is now today. Mostly appearing on social media and TV rather than in newspapers. The broad accessibility of the internet made a groundbreaking switch on how we view and consume content, whether it would be journalistic or else. I’m essentially using time to connect the two statements together. Journalism has been around for a long time while the internet – not so much.

But the evolution of technologies changed fundamentally how we view a lot of things in our day-to-day lifes. Get up in the morning, get a coffee from the local café and read the morning news on the newspaper suddenly became – wake up, get a coffee and open up your phone to read the latest news on social media.

What I’m trying to say is that journalism has adapted from distributing information with newspapers to having a constant presence in social medias. Both are now one, or the closest next thing to it. I would even go as far to say that now more than ever social media and journalism have brought people together. And it is imperative to recognize them as one side of the same coin.

This theorem isn’t math, which would be usually used as a rule in algebra, but I think I managed to get my point across with words rather than with symbols or formulas.

More broadly my topic is about unity and seeking similarities that bring us together rather than tearing each other apart for the differences we display.

Text: Martina Firova
Featured image: SHVETS production on Pexels