Introduction
Getting up to date news or information was conventionally simple and some common routines such as picking up the morning paper, turning into a local station when commuting, and catching up the evening news before dinner had to be performed on a regular basis.
However, the arrival of internet news has overwhelmingly widened our choices in such routines with thousands of websites ranging from companies posting their press releases to folks conveying the latest political anecdotes, now offer news online (Sheldrake, 2011, 8).
Traditional media have now expanded their contents and have joined in the ‘on-line bandwagon’ in order to give the public an electronic, moving away from ‘hard’ news contents.
Based on the propinquity to the unfolding events, readers are now given the opportunity of effortlessly choosing their preferred news source as most newspapers are now publishing some of the stories from their dailies online (Meier, 2011, 46).
Traditional news sources and media have since revamped their operations in order to suit an ever-growing internet audience, and the explosion of twitterverse has made this even more obvious.
Twitter is a microblogging tool that has continuously promoted communication at different levels and through it, news or information of the most succinct form can be quickly circulated, and assimilated for both conveying and receiving sides (Vaughn, 2011, 53).
Twitter allows web users to communicate with each other through short broadcast posts called ‘’tweets’’ which is limited to a length of 140 characters. The Microblog messages which are digital can be easily conveyed and received through multiple methods such a computer, within the infinitesimal confines of a cell phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
Information and news transmitted through such means bring into line the fast-paced thinking patterns of people in this new millennium. The information is quite precise, and targeted to a specific audience that requires such information.
Many consumers have seemingly taken on twitterverse to be an overdue antidote to the interminable spam e-mails and proclamations on services, news, and information that they desperately need.
Initially, this might seem counterintuitive but it has proved to be convenient in the journalism business platform for most news organizations and individuals, in some cases (Sheldrake, 2011, 10).
Twitter has become an indispensable communication tool and companion to journalists and has turned its users into mini-news organizations since it deviates from traditional media such as print, radio, and television.
Despite it being a new tool of communication, some traditional rudiments of news publication have been incorporated and merged with twitterverse and vice versa.
Although it might be thought to be a matter of convenience, it has proved to be problematic for both sides championing for or against twitterverse and traditional news publications.
Major Benefits of Twitterverse to Traditional News Publications
Bringing More People to the Table
A significant feature of Twitter is that it allows people to spread news through ‘retweet’ messages that can easily be identified by the username patterns that is different from traditional news media. Through retweets, one can easily be notified the kinds of news that are important or popular and consequently spreading actively.
These retweets can also have links to the traditional news media which helps disseminate significant events in a global or local scene. People can quickly converge on twitter and spread entity-oriented issues that receive low coverage in traditional news media.
Twitter greatly increases publishing abilities of its users since they can publish their own blogs on other people’s blogs, and this brings in personal contentment of being recognized which is better than the prejudice witnessed in traditional news media (Cunningham and Turner, 2010, 5-13).
Twitterverse has brought in simplicity to frequent updating through its microblogging capabilities and has therefore broadened self-publication to a large population. In the Australian work place, twitterverse can be prospective in fostering diversity and it can be used as a channel to retain and draw upon diverse people of talent.
Regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, or even marital status, anyone with an access to a computer can create an account. It is an ideal way of encouraging networking especially for people who are working in non-traditional conditions and outside traditional career formations (Cunningham &Turner, 2010, 13).
Twitter verse is also a faster means of removing physical barriers and perceptions pertaining to the ability or disability of others, since traditional news publications aimed at promoting diversity usually tend to take quite long to reach the wider population (Meier, 2011, 40).
Therefore, twitterverse can quickly level people’s propensity so that formal issues and cultural barriers that can hinder participation are detached and diverse levels of seniority and backgrounds can freely network. Moreover, both activists and individuals have exploited twitterverse to share unequivocal news on a one-time cause.
They can mobilize their members quickly, solicit donations, and give a sense of cohesiveness, which cannot be achieved by traditional means such as group meetings and periodic publications. Instantaneous details of a protest, meet-up, or last minute events can be easily communicated through tweets.
Also in some cases, human right activists and other twitter users have used blogs, photographs, and live video demonstrations to show the whole world a view that traditional journalists cannot provide due to being ousted from those countries (Vaughn, 2011, 49). This will gradually replace traditional media outlets as the center for group mobilization and formation of social order by controlling information.
Through Twitter, the public is also capable of breaking news stories while relaying their developments and such can be seen from the deadly Victoria bushfires in Australia.
In this scenario, Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used Twitter to update the country comprehensively, while extending his condolences and notifying those affected on where and how they could access government help (Meier, 2011, 38-39).
Friends also used twitter and families to find and know the situation of loved in the affected areas, something that traditional news mechanisms cannot ascertain since it is time-consuming.
Twitter verse proved to be a real tool of communication that showed a high level of commitment from the government.
This ‘high level of concern’ could not be attained from traditional news publications, which could have acquired both time and money to relay such message (Vaughn, 2011, 51). Twitter has proved to be resourceful in conveying real-time information to those aware of the current stories or not especially in a time of crisis where one can take preventative measures.
Politicians have also used twitterverse for instant communication and relation to their electorates by giving comprehensive feedbacks to the rising questions that originate from both the media and public (Papathanassopoulos, 2011, 202).
Traditional news media does not provide this avenue of interactiveness that can be used by the same politicians in outlaying their policies while also dispelling rumors or allegations thrown at them, without the typical press conferences and press releases (Miller, 2011, 150).
Such occurrences also promote instant polling of public opinions by various polling agencies on a wide rage of issues, and governments around the world have used Twitter to weigh in public opinion before conducting various projects.
According to the 2010 United Nations report on E-government survey, the Australian government used twitterverse as one of the mechanisms in weighing public opinion in relation to the management of crisis-response funds specifically in the district of Heathcote (15).
Through twitter, citizens were able to prioritize the most eligible proposals devised by the local community, and gave them a significant involvement in the budgeting processes and awareness in the overall project.
This allows policymakers to identify public preferences and demands while opening up space for dialogue and cooperation rather than the dictatorial elements associated with traditional news information since initial public opinion is usually not incorporated with them.
Twitterverse has also helped to leverage Public Relations because when clients are helped to produce news in the traditional news publications in both print and online, twitter will be used in this field to post links to those account, therefore exposing those clients to a phenomenal publicity while also increasing their Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Traditional news publications in promoting client’s events in the PR field usually prove to be very costly but through twitterverse, clients will save money as those events are promoted electronically (Meier, 2011, 45).
The Dangers of Twitter verse to Traditional News Publications
Credibility of tweets has continuously been questioned as news can be manipulated easily, and such occurrence is widely evident in Australia during the Queensland flooding. Twitter was used by some of its users to rely unsubstantiated information, which could not be verified, and only brings in more confusion to the already dire situation.
Unlike the traditional news publications, which have attestations to their stories and can express regret where needed, twitter users are mainly individuals whose agendas in newsgathering and dissemination are not specified (Sheldrake, 2011, 4-6). This only shows that in a time of crisis or not, twitter can intentionally be used to cause havoc and confusion.
By putting links to other traditional news sources on twitter, it also poses threat to these news mediums, as they are prone to hacking, which can lead to manipulation of their news therefore damaging their general image.
There is also inadequate conveyance of complex ideas and information since there is a set limit of 140 characters per tweet therefore making traditional news publications seems quite appropriate (Meier, 2011, 37).
Some of these high profile publications also have legal implications since messages are sent openly from the source of the breaking when they are unfiltered. Twitter as an entity is left with regular law suits in situations where its users have done the offence, in other words they are used as a ceremonial scapegoat.
Twitterverse is also failing to meet its financial obligations from a business point of view since offering a twitter news feed is not an obvious means of generating revenue, and since journalism is a trade, twitter does not pay its way.
Privacy issues also looms twitter use as personal contents is easily available to many users who can use it for personal targets or malice incases where there are conflicting views on a particular issue (Wankel, 2010, 79).
Its wider level of transparency can also deter various sections of the society such as academic departments, from delving into twitterverse since it requires a greater level of propinquity, accountability, and exposure in order to communicate.
In such a department, there is fear of handling the numerous complaints, tribulations, and other unanticipated issues arising from the two-way means of communication.
In traditional news publications that relates to such departments, news would be handle with great apprehension to meet social distress. Twitter as a means of communication has distinctive jargons that require one to get up-to-speed with it, which some various sectors of the society, lack that online experience and understanding.
One’s technological knowledge should also be considerably relevant in order to engage in this online experience (Meier, 2011, 47). Unlike traditional media that is inclusive, twitterverse discriminates on who is to use its services on a technological know-front.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper evaluation paints the clear picture of how Twitter has tremendously grown to affect journalism and social order at large through its mediums. Twitter as a communication tool is verbosely challenging.
Traditional news publications in breaking news and developing stories and therefore, the media sector have to reassess their definitions of ‘propinquity’ in relation to new media tools like twitter. Through its online capabilities, news and stories on twitter can prove to be ‘viral’ as issues emerge on a moment-by-moment basis although some stories cannot be easily forecasted from its outcome (Wankel, 2010, 82).
Since twitter provides its audiences with a full interaction platform, inappropriate news and communication can be perpetual and make a media entity be the target of negative publicity and public condemnation.
Journalistic leaders should also learn the vast forms of media and devise new mechanisms that will understand and better link traditional news publications with twitter without either sides compromising value and credibility, and avoid legal implications.
We have also seen how both public and government to help in communication and coordination during a time of crisis can use twitter. However, twitter should formulate systems that will verify and validate some tweets since some may also use such situations for malice acts and reasons (Meier, 2011, 51).
Twitter should also provide offline and online colloquiums that will help and incorporate both old and young generations into understandings its technological mechanisms for easy use by sides. There is no doubt that if all qualms ands concerns are met, twitter will definitely be the relevant source of news and communications.
Works Cited
Cunningham, and Graeme Turner. The Media and Communications in Australia. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin, 2010. Print.
Meier, Jane. The Four Stages of Highly Effective Crisis Management: How to Manage the Media in the Digital Age. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011. Print.
Miller, Vincent. Understanding Digital Culture. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2011. Print.
Papathanassopoulos, Stylianos. Media Perspectives for the 21st Century. New York: Routledge, Taylor&Francis Group, 2011. Print.
.Sheldrake, Philip. The Business of Influence: Reframing Marketing and PR for the Digital Age. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2011. Print.
United, Nations. United Nations E-Government Survey 2010: Leveraging E-Government at a Time of Financial and Economic Crisis. New York: United Nations Publications, 2010. Print.
Vaughn, Jacqueline. Environmental Politics: Domestic and Global Dimensions. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.
Wankel, Charles. Cutting-Edge Social Media Approaches to Business Education: Teaching With Linkedln, Facebook, Twitter, Second Life, and Blogs. North Carolina: IAP, 2010. Print.