Date of Award

1-1-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Hazel

Second Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Cunningham

Abstract

This thesis provides an investigation into the changes that have occurred in news-gathering in television newsrooms since the inclusion of social media on station websites. Studies note that social media is a growing avenue through which consumers and television viewers may expand their access to the news and may often become part of the news-gathering process. This thesis includes a survey of small and medium-sized television markets. It was delivered to news directors, promotion directors, content providers, executive administrators, consultants, and network personnel. These individuals provided answers to ten survey questions and were given the opportunity to supply additional information in an open comment section. There were 20 respondents participating in the survey from the states of Montana, South Carolina, New York, Colorado, California, Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Arizona. Also included in this thesis is an auto-ethnographic analysis of my 35 years in the television broadcasting business and the observations I have made regarding the introduction of social media into this industry. From a news-gathering perspective, the principal question of this is study is whether or not the Internet and social media have changed how television stations perform news-gathering functions on a daily basis.

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