Tumbl

I broke the internet.

[afjezina]

Is Facebook a Source of News?

     Welcome to Facebook, your new local newsstand. According to a Pew Research Study conducted in 2013, 30% of Americans get their news from Facebook.  57% of American Adults are on Facebook and 64% of users visit the site on a daily basis. With Facebook possessing a good share of the American market it can be debated if it is a viable source of news and if the way the social network connects users to news is ethical.

Why does it matter?

     With over 1.35 billion active users and rising, Facebook has a lot of control over what Americans (and other users in the world) are seeing. Yet, each person's Facebook is filled with a separate variety of news. Every user sees a personalized view of news based on the social's networks algorithm. It takes in account your friends, your interests, your basic demographic, and what you like.

     Even what's "trending" on Facebook is personally designed for you based on this algorithm. With Facebook's Trending feature, users can a small box on the left side of their News Feed stating what's trending on Facebook based on popularity of likes, mentions in comments, and shares of related content across the website. This algorithm also dictates whether something trending will be higher up or further down your trending list, designed for you to click on what best peeks your interests.

     In a small college class at Hofstra University, 11 journalism students listed their Facebook trending lists on Dec. 4 around 3 p.m. Keep in mind this was a few hours after the release of the Eric Garner decision. The results are shown below.

     Each student has a separate list, some more similar than others. This little experiment shows a glimpse of how users are  creating their own bubble, their own social network of polarized opinions, news, and content.

     However, there is good news for those who want to escape the algorithms of Facebook. *Use lists instead of your news feed.* Putting friends into lists will put posts in chronological order rather than a tailor-made news feed and trending box. This still limits a user to their selection of friends, pages they like, and people they follow, but it will let users escape an advertised selection of information for news.

     Whether we like it or not, the algorithm is basing news based on what we like and who we are. It is adjusted for users to click on content they like, just as people will watch a specific news company or show on television, users choose the news they want to see. The harsh truth is if you don't like the news you see on Facebook, what does that say about yourself?

[afjezina]

     Do you want a job? Do you love social media? Do you hate it? Do you like memes? If you said yes to all or most of these questions, this is the perfect post for you. So, continue reading to find out about 9 takeaways that can help you get hired at a social media job or internship. 

     A lot of these takeaways are fairly easy to do, so don't be intimidated. They also involve being present on the internet, because let's face it who wants to hire someone who's invisible online. If employers can't find you, they won't want to hire you. So add in a little effort and content, drop some social media knowledge, let your personality shine and bam you'll be employed in no time. 

     And one last thing before you read... these are tips from real people who are employed in social media newsrooms! Everything in the following Storify was live tweeted from the Larwrence Herbert School of Communication (@HerbertSchoolHU). The school hosted a panel discussing how to get a job in a social media newsroom.  The four speakers (Lauren McCullough, Ryan Broderick, Veronica de Suoza, and Matt Silverman) are past alumni of Hofstra's communication department. They have all worked their way up and are ruling the internet, one hyperlink at a time. So pay attention, because if you want to work at Digg, Facebook, Mashable, or Buzzfeed these social media professionals can have a hand in hiring you.

               Now that you read all 9 takeaways: make sure to check out all the links included in this Storify to gain more insight. These links include advice that can give you an advantage in being hired in a social media newsroom, so click away and get busy. 

  Also follow: @HeyVeronica, @lfmccullough, @Matt_Silverman, and @broderick. Did I mention they work at Digg, Facebook, Mashable, and Buzzfeed? They can hire you, so take notes!

   And don't forget to follow social-elements and like the social media team on Facebook for more interesting articles on how to become a social media professional and improve your social media presence (click on the underlined hyperlinks).

[afjezina]

Incorporating Social Media Across the Board

Photo: Gary Hayes Via flickr

      On October 29, I participated in live tweeting #DayofDialogue with my fellow classmates of our JRNL115 class.

     Using Storify I organized my tweets featuring pictures, videos, and retweets. 

      I  also posted a video of an audience member who attended the event via Instagram. In total I used four social media websites (Twitter, Instagram, Storify, and Tumblr) to share my story on the interweb. 

 This project was interesting as I interacted with people not just across twitter, but across multiple social media websites. I was able to see other perspectives of the day besides my own and from fellow journalists.

     Storify is a great website for combing through mounds of information on social media, picking out what you need for your story, and then making a story of it. It's amazing how many other sources you can use online to make an interesting and visual social media news story. Even professional new sources such as CNN use Storify. For anyone wanting to make a presence in social media covering events, Storify is a go to website. 

     Though Twitter was my main source for content, Instagram was a source for videos and pictures which I linked to my Twitter. Another possible source for linking videos is the app Vine. With Twitter you can post a picture or a 15 sec video at max. With vine you can create a stop-motion 6 sec looping video. Utilizing my content sources, I was able to shuffle through information and pick out what I needed. On twitter I searched #DayofDialogue and #KellyClass (JRNL 115's own personal hashtag) to embed my own content onto a Storify post.

Below is my Storify, check it out and get on Storify. 

[afjezina]

7 TakeAways of Pew Report on Social Media, Political News, and Ideology

Recently released findings from the Pew Research Center's Journalism Project state that social media, especially Facebook, is opening up new ways to talk, share, and find out about Politics.

Here's a debriefed version of 7 important takeaways from the report. Take note that this study is based on 89% of Americans who have access to the internet.

1. Facebook is a top source for political news among web users. According to statistics, the social media website is a popular source for government and political news. Half of candidates participating in the study stated they received political news from Facebook in the last week. 

2. Facebook draws more than 2X the viewers of other websites

... for news.

Facebook has twice the viewership for articles compared to other news sources such as Yahoo News and Google News. As a platform where users can easily share, comment, and like posts, news on Facebook spreads like wildfire.

3. Those with stronger ideological beliefs tend to have like minded friends.

This means that the more passionate you are about politics, the more likely you are to surround yourself with "friends" that share similar political values.

4. According to the study, those who see political posts on FB are typically exposed to a variety of views.

A 62% majority of users see content that are in line with their views "some of the time". Conservatives were more likely to see like- minded posts while those with mixed ideologies were less likely.  Overall, Liberals were least likely to see like-minded posts.

5. About one in four FB user have blocked or defriended a FB friend due to political disagreements.

Users have resulted to ending their "FB friendship" when their views and opinions are tested are insulted. And since conservatives are more likely to have "like-minded" FB friends, there is a higher rate of liberals blocking and deleting friends in online political arguments.

6. So who do people follow?

According to the report, 29% of Facebook users follow or like political parties, candidates or elected representatives.  36% of FB users follow new organizations or reporters. And about 4 out of ten users follow issue based campaigns or groups.

7. Here's another fact about those with stronger political passions. 

These political individuals are more likely to show their interests by following groups, candidates, and political parties that they support.The study states that those who are more confident of their political beliefs are twice as likely to follow political candidates, groups, and other political interests on Facebook.

Conclusion

While this report brings up many interesting statistics, some question the validity of this report. According to journalist Pablo Barbera, collaboration between Facebook users reduces political polarization and opens up FB users to more perspectives than their own ideologies. 

Whatever the case, Facebook is becoming political.

Below are additional links to other political social media studies:

http://www.niemanlab.org/2014/10/this-study-finds-that-social-media-use-reduces-political-polarization-instead-of-increasing-it/

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/10/21/study-social-media-can-moderate-users-politics/

http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/politics-fact-sheet/

[free-your-mind]

[afjezina]

#reblog

[abcworldnews-deactivated2024032]

Lava flow is threatening homes as it edges toward a Hawaiian town - advancing over 5 football fields in 48 hours.  Clayton Sandell was there: http://abcn.ws/1wkhVU6

Molten lava threatens the big island.

[humanrightswatch]

Jamaica: Unchecked Homophobic Violence

High levels of violent crime, public mistrust of the police force, low levels of crime reporting, low prosecution rates, and a perception that the criminal justice system is skewed against the poor are factors that affect all Jamaicans. But LGBT Jamaicans, especially those who are poor and unable to live in safer, more affluent areas, are particularly vulnerable.

Devon O., a pseudonym used for his protection, told Human Rights Watch that in January 2013, police stood by and watched while a crowd of about 30 people – shouting insults regarding his sexual orientation and armed with knives, machetes and sticks – beat him for about 20 minutes. He said police finally removed him from the crowd and placed him in a police van but then handcuffed and beat him.

Many LGBT Jamaicans are denied full citizenship rights and become effectively homeless. Some feel forced to flee the country. Among the most vulnerable are dozens of gay and transgender Jamaican children and young adults whose families have rejected them and who are living on the streets, where they face violence and harassment from the police and the public.

Photo: A homeless youth from the LGBT community sits in the sewer where he lives in Kingston, Jamaica. (C) 2014 Human Rights Watch

[jakeandamir]

New Tumblr Vid Player!

[afjezina]

The Social Media Policy

The Social Media Policy

In the big bad world of social media, it is easy to make mistakes. Following the 10 listed commandments to keep your posts (and reputation) clear, coherent, and P.C.

1. The "3 P's"

Keep it professional. Keep it personal. Keep it passionate! Balancing the “3 P’s” will give your audience a fresh outlook on your posts.

2. If You Can't Say it Aloud, Don't Post it .

This is basic. As your mother said growing up, “If you have nothing nice to say don’t say it all”. Same goes for whatever you post. If you don’t have the courage to say it in front of a room of crowded people, should you be posting this?

3. Verify Info Before RT'ing.

Check. Double-check. And maybe triple-check. This is not a drill. Posting false information, will make you appear unprofessional and incautious.

4. Keep it SFW.

Keep it Safe for Work! If you wouldn’t like your Boss to see it, why would you post it to the free-will of the internet? Let’s be honest, we’ve all posted things we have regretted. Remembering to keep it SFW will help you avoid posting inappropriate pictures and ridiculous tweets that should never see the day of light.

5. Cater to Your Audience.

But JSYK Everyone Can See Your Post...

You love your followers. They love you. It’s a happy family! But guess who crashed the family picnic? The internet.

Remember anyone can catch a bite of the posts you're serving up to the world. So keep that in mind when posting content.

6. Beware of Conflict of Interest.

Oh no a conflict of interest! Wait, what is… that? Basically, if you have a competing professional or personal interest, best avoid the subject.

For example, my friend works at MLB.com. She CANNOT post anything about which team is her favorite, because that is a conflict for the professional league that she represents as an employee.

7. Be Transparent.

Be open and accountable to your identity. People like to see your voice and personality in tweets. Robots. Are. Not. Welcome.

8. Don't Steal Tweets.

Don't be a social media pirate. Keep it original and RT something that you find interesting. Don’t steal a tweet! The consequences could even result in the death of your Twitter career!

9. Don't be Offensive.

Save yourself from embarrassment and avoid stereotypical and racist social media statements. It’s rude, will result in the loss of followers, and the majority of us don't want to hear it.

10. Post Responsibly.

Post responsibly my friends. Again avoid social media while under the influence.

[afjezina]

Do what you want and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Dr. Seuss

[p5art]

Sign of life

(code here)

[afjezina]

theSkimm

theSkimm is the daily newsletter that simplifies the headlines for the educated professional who knows enough to know she needs more. We do the reading for you and explain it with fresh editorial content, breaking down what you need to know to start the conversation.

My favorite way to catch up on the news.

[afjezina]

Without music, life would be a mistake.

Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, Or, How to Philosophize With the Hammer

[wwd]

New York Designer Inspirations: Part One

Photo by Lubov Azria

"Chromatic clashes." — Lubov Azria, BCBG Max Azria