Video: the Impact of Social Media

Launch of Reuters Institute Working Paper by Nic Newman

Click here to see a recording of the full discussion and here for Nic's presentation.

The College of Journalism and the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford held a discussion on the paper by Nic Newman, Controller Future Media and Technology in BBC Journalism.

Nic's report offers an up-to-date study of how newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and US are responding to the new wave of participatory social media, and a historic shift in control towards individual consumers.

It was researched and written during his time as BBC Journalist Fellow at the Reuters Institute during summer 2009. The working paper examines how journalists at leading news organisations in the UK and US are increasingly involving audiences in the way they research and tell stories.

It explores the dilemmas and issues raised by greater audience engagement, through case study interviews with leading practitioners and managers, and reviews of recent research. It also looks at how mainstream media coverage of breaking news events is changing; using topical case studies, notably from the G20 London summit and Iranian post-election street protests.

Nic presented his findings in a discussion chaired by David Levy, Director of the Reuters Institute, with Meg Pickard, Head of Social Media Development at Guardian News and Media.