Social Media Use in Journalism Education

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ammina Kothari ◽  
Andrea Hickerson

Social media use has become essential for journalists. Although previous research has explored how journalists use social media, less is known about how journalism and mass communication programs incorporate social media in their coursework. Based on our survey of 323 students and 125 faculty in American universities, this study offers a comparative analysis of social media use among journalism faculty and students, both personally and in coursework. Faculty and students in our sample report using Facebook more frequently for personal reasons, whereas Twitter is the main platform required by faculty members for class assignments. We also found that students’ majors and faculty’s experience in the industry influenced not only how they evaluated the utility of social media in coursework but also how they utilized various platforms in classes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raluca Cozma ◽  
Tom Hallaq

This content analysis examines how award-winning student-run TV stations use Twitter to promote their work and to communicate with followers on campus and beyond. As digital natives and budding professionals, broadcast journalism students should showcase some of the best practices in social-media use. Variables under scrutiny include levels of activity and interactivity on Twitter feeds, popularity of accounts, and focus of tweets. The findings are alarming and suggest that journalism education lags behind shifts in the industry.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Mesut Bulut ◽  
Abdulkadir Kırbaş

It was aimed in this study to determine the Turkish teacher candidates’ views on the “Mass Communication and Turkish” course in the context of social media use. A case study method was used in the study. Semi-structured interview forms for students were used in the process of gathering data. Certain data obtained as a result of interviews were interpreted through descriptive analyses within the scope of scientific research methods. The study was conducted at a university in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey on 20 teacher candidates studying in the Department of Turkish Education. As a data collection instrument, interview forms were used to obtain the teacher candidates’ views on the relationship between mass communication and language, their habits of using mass media, the influence of mass media on language and on the teacher candidates, language problems in the context of the use of social media, the basic factors causing these problems and their suggestions for the solution of the problems within the scope of “Mass Communication and Turkish” course. The data obtained through the interview forms were recorded within the participant’s knowledge, and then transcribed by using the content analysis method. It was ensured that the data were complete, intact, and reliable. They were confirmed by the participants. Then, the voice recordings were destroyed based on ethical principles. Based on the data obtained from the interview forms, a content analysis was carried out to make explanations and do evaluations. As a result of the study, the teacher candidates saw the Mass Communication and Turkish course as a useful and necessary course for themselves. According to the teacher candidates, mass communication was important, and it was important to use the mass communication tools correctly and effectively in terms of language. Mass communication tools were not used in a conscious and sensitive way, especially in the context of social media. There were problems especially in the use of Turkish. A unity could not be established in language. A national consciousness could not be achieved. The “Mass Communication and Turkish” course expanded the horizons of the Turkish teacher candidates and made them more conscious in the use of language. After taking this course, they were clearly more familiar with the concept of mass communication. They learned the functions of mass media better. Again, according to the teacher candidates, they understood the importance of using Turkish correctly in mass communication in the context of social media. In the context of social media, the “Mass Communication and Turkish” course was found to fulfill important functions in the communication skills of Turkish teacher candidates in gaining the habit of using Turkish correctly and effectively. As a result of this study, it was found that this course provided an important contribution with a national consciousness to the reading, writing, listening and speaking of language/Turkish, which is the most basic tool for mass communication today that we call the information age. In this sense, as a result of the study, solutions were proposed for problems related to Turkish education and teaching in the context of mass communication.


10.28945/4661 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 953-975
Author(s):  
Ahmad Samed Al-Adwan ◽  
Nour Awni Albelbisi ◽  
Shadia Hasan Aladwan ◽  
Omar Horani ◽  
Amro Al-Madadha ◽  
...  

Aim/Purpose: The main objective of this study is to explore students’ beliefs with regard to social media use (SMU) in higher education and the consequences of such use on the perception of their academic performance. Additionally, the study aims to determine the major influential factors with regard to SMU in student learning settings as a means of enhancing their performance. To achieve these objectives, drawing on the literature related to SMU in higher education settings, a research model has been developed. Background: Social media platforms have led to a significant transformation with regard to the communication landscape in higher education in terms of offering enhanced learning and improved teaching experience. Nevertheless, little is known, particularly in developing countries such as Jordan, as to whether or not the use of such platforms by students in higher education increases the perceptions of their academic performance. Therefore, this study has developed a model to examine the perceptions of higher education students with regard to social media use and its effect on their performance. Methodology: The Structural Equation Modelling approach is used to analyze data collected via an online survey in the form of a questionnaire to examine the use of such a model. The study sample is drawn from undergraduate and postgraduate students from three universities (one public and two private) in Jordan. Convenience sampling is used to collect data. Out of 730 sent questionnaire, 513 responses were received, of which 403 were deemed qualified to be part of the data analysis process. Contribution: This study contributes to the literature on social media in higher education by enhancing our understanding of the perceptions of higher education students on the use of social media in their learning. The tested model can be used as a benchmark for other studies that target the impact of social media on student performance in higher education. Findings: The results reveal that perceptions of (1) usefulness, collaborative learning, enhanced communication, enjoyment, and ease of use of social media have a positive effect on the use of such media in student learning; (2) resource sharing has an insignificant effect on social media use in student learning, and (3) social media use has a positive influence on students’ perceptions of their academic performance. Recommendations for Practitioners: Senior management and policy makers in higher education institutions will have to train faculty members on effective strategies and methods in order to effectively integrate social media into education. This would equip faculty members with the necessary digital skills needed to help them to be fully informed regarding the benefits of social media and its tools in learning and teaching activities and would also allow them to avoid any possible drawbacks. Furthermore, faculty members should reconsider their current techniques and strategies, and adopt new methods in their teaching that encourage students to use social media platforms as part of their learning. For example, they can regularly post discussions and assignments on social media platforms to inculcate the habit of using such platforms among students for educational purposes. Students, on the other hand, should be aware of the implications and potential advantageous aspects of SMU in their learning. This could be done by conducting regular workshops and seminars in the various faculties and schools at universities. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers are encouraged to investigate additional factors that might influence the use of social media by students as well as faculty members. Specially, an emphasis should be given to identify any potential obstacles that might hinder the use of social media in higher education. Impact on Society: Social media is not only useful for socializing, but also it can be an effective educational tool that enhance students’ performance in higher education. Future Research: Although the collected data support the research model, this study is subjected to various limitations that need to be tackled by further studies. This study is based on the principles of quantitative research design. Data for this study was collected via survey questionnaires. Accordingly, future studies may consider a qualitative research design in order to uncover additional factors that may impact the use of social media on the part of higher education students. This would allow researchers to generate in-depth insights and a holistic understanding of SMU by higher education students. A convenience sampling method was employed to select respondents for this study. The respondents who participated in this study were from three universities (one public and two private) in Jordan. Accordingly, future research is deemed to be necessary to achieve a degree of generalizability regarding the findings of this study.


2021 ◽  
pp. 205789112110682
Author(s):  
Yanqiu Zhang ◽  
Daniel Oloo Ong'ong'a

This study explored social media use by CGTN Africa and BBC Africa under the concept of digital diplomacy. Digital diplomacy has been seen recently as an important component that international media adapt to set agendas, expand their online presence and create, engage and sustain relationships with their foreign audience. A content analysis was employed to analyse 1200 posts from Facebook accounts of the media. The study's findings show that the media set an agenda through actively posting stories that promote African values and culture to generate interaction among their readership. Also, findings indicate that foreign media prioritized reporting on specific issues in Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia over others. The audience engaged more with reports on sports and less with those on tourism and wildlife. CGTN Africa rarely engages in conversation with its audience. Thus, there is a need to build the capacity of its staff, which might help China's media perform better on social media.


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