Journalism as usual

The use of social media as a newsgathering tool in the coverage of the Iranian elections in 2009

Bibliographic Data

ID20207771
AuthorsMegan Knight (0000-0001-5171-663X, University of Lancashire, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume13
Issue1
Pages61-74
Publication date2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Media Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1468-2753 • E-ISSN: 2040-0926
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1386/jmpr.13.1.61_1
OpenAlexW1993329468
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited25

The Iranian elections of June 2009 and the ensuing protests were hailed as the ‘Twitter revolution’ in the media in the United Kingdom. However, this study of the use of sources by journalists covering the events shows that despite their rhetoric of the importance of social media in alerting the global community to events in Iran, journalists themselves did not turn to that social media for their own information, but relied most on traditional sourcing practices: political statements, expert opinion and a handful of ‘man on the street’ quotes for colour.This study shows that although the mythology of the Internet as a place where all voices are equal, and have equal access to the public discourse continues — a kind of idealized ‘public sphere’ — the sourcing practices of journalists and the traditions of coverage continue to ensure that traditional voices and sources are heard above the crowd

Citizen journalism · Journalism · Media studies · Mythology · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Public relations · Public sphere · Rhetoric · Social media · Sociology · The Internet · History · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Social Media and Politics

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