Peers and Sources as Social Capital in the Production of News

Online Social Networks as Communities of Journalists

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12170907
AutoresMaurice Vergeer (0000-0002-4802-4701, Department of Communication, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, autor correspondente)
Ano2014
Volume33
Fascículo3
Páginas277-297
Data de publicação2014-07-03
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSocial Science Computer Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0894-4393 • E-ISSN: 1552-8286
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0894439314539128
OpenAlexW2102751885
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas12
Referências citadas48

In a very short time span, Twitter has become a major force in modern societies and also in the production of news by journalists. How journalists use Twitter is studied extensively, particularly on a small scale (i.e., qualitative research, specific events, mostly descriptive). However, studies on how Twitter has impacted journalism as a whole are relatively scarce. This study focuses on the adoption of Twitter and its emerging community network structure in the Netherlands. Using the social network data of 2,152 journalists as retrieved from Twitter, analysis shows that the social network among journalists is well connected. The journalists who are extremely popular are also able to influence the flow of information through the network more than others (cf. gatekeeper role). Still, even though gatekeeping positions in the network are present due to the absence of specific relations, and the network consists of eight tightly knit network communities, the entire network is very well connected. The adoption of Twitter as a microblogging and networking service over time indicated that adoption increased particularly in early 2009. The possible consequences of these tightly knit communities for the production of news are discussed in terms of pack journalism, echo chambers, and information cascades

Advertising · Business · Gatekeeping · Information flow · Internet privacy · Journalism · Media studies · Microblogging · Political science · Production (economics · Public relations · Service (business · Social capital · Social media · Social network (sociolinguistics · Social network analysis · Social science · Sociology · World Wide Web · Complex Network Analysis Techniques · Computer Science · Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence · Social Media and Politics · Marketing