By Marissa De La Cerda

 Jenn Schanz, reporter for WXYZ Detroit, discusses the importance of social media in the future of journalism.

The future of journalism is, naturally, something all journalists worry about. Where is it headed? How can we continue to increase engagement with our audiences? More importantly, how can we continue to tell stories with the evolution of technology?

“It’s impossible to know where the future of journalism is going,” says DePaul alumna and WXYZ reporter Jenn Schanz. “So, it’s hard to always be prepared for it.”But not being prepared for it does not mean journalists can’t evolve with it. To some, the advent of social media was frightening, but to a particularly younger generation of journalists, social media looked like a promising future. Though social media can’t replace traditional reporting, it can help promote stories and make it more accessible to those who are unfamiliar with the industry.

“Things like Twitter can help promote the story or serve as a teaser to a story,” says Schanz. By posting videos or behind the scenes photos, people can not only see what goes into the making of a story but would also be enticed to see the finished product. Additionally, Twitter can serve as a way of getting news tips or finding sources.

Using Twitter to tweet facts or details about a story, Schanz says, is something that is also new to journalism. Some reporters will post threads that begin with a tweet stating where the reporter is and what story or beat they’re covering. The following tweets will consist of developing information and important facts those following the thread will need to remain informed. There’s still some confusion, however, when it comes to deciding what to share on social media and what to save for the story (either print or broadcast). Sometimes when people follow threads on news stories or breaking news, they won’t feel the need to go and visit the actual web page where the story is posted or watch the newscast because they believe all the information they need is in the thread. Because of this, it is advised to link the story in the thread.

Additionally, Schanz says social media can be tricky to maneuver in journalism because of the difference between personal and professional accounts. Some reporters have strictly professional accounts, whereas others have a mix of both personal and professional where they’ll post their stories, small tidbits of their personal lives or personal opinions. Though many people enjoy seeing the opinions and personal lives of reporters, to others this might imply a bias in their reporting or distract from the severity of their news stories.

To Schanz, the simple solution was to use Twitter professionally and outlets like Facebook or Instagram for personal use. But while she has private Instagram and Facebook accounts, she finds that even then her private information still gets out. Because of this, she advises future journalists to monitor what they post because “even the private stuff can become public at some point.”

Nonetheless, Schanz still believes the future of journalism involves social media and that a lot of the times, reporters learn about these new methods as they arise. When I asked her if her time at DePaul properly prepared her for her job now, she says that her professors, including DePaul’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence directors Carol Marin and Don Moseley, gave her all the tools necessary to feel prepared for the industry, but that there are some things you will only learn on the job — especially as social media continues to evolve and become more advanced.

 

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