Influence of social media in the Practice of Journalism in Bangladesh

Abstract

In the rapidly changing global arena, technological advancement and the adaptation of changing patterns of technology the growing trend in all areas, including journalism. The increasing use of social media in journalism due to technological advancement has been remarkably noticeable worldwide, including in Bangladesh in recent years. With the delicate touch of social media, sourcing and disseminating information have been easier. Social media has been considered one of the blessings of journalism to disseminate and share news events and get immediate feedback from the audience. As Facebook is the most popular social media among journalists in Bangladesh, the study took Facebook as the central unit of the research. The research's main objective is to determine how journalists in Bangladesh use Facebook in their regular journalism practices. The study is a qualitative study based on quantitative data. In the regular journalism practice, the study inquiries different uses of Facebook by Journalists in Bangladesh based on survey data. It has been found that to disseminate reports published or broadcasted in different newspapers and TV channels; journalists mainly use the Facebook platform. The study revealed that the reports not published or broadcasted in mainstream media are getting space in social media. The study also discovered that to get immediate feedback from the audience, the journalists in Bangladesh considered Facebook one of the most powerful tools. Moreover, to develop sources and get clues for news, Facebook occasionally assists journalists significantly. Furthermore, a significant finding is that ethical practice is in danger when practicing journalism on Facebook. Based on the above findings, the study concluded that for journalists in Bangladesh, social media would be an effective alternative to sharing news and getting immediate feedback from the audience.