Facebook helping journalism

Posted: October 22, 2007

*Update: Check out Facebook hurting journalism.

It is interesting how much I hear about journalists using Facebook—the networking Web site formerly for college students and recently open to the public. From what I have seen first hand, the uses of Facebook for journalism have been positive. It has been used to check names, affiliations and activities. It is by no means a first source, but an easy way to make sure people exist, how to spell their names and how to put a face to a name.

Facebook can also serve as an online directory of sources from stories past. It’s a good way to keep posted on what sources are up to. Joe Grimm of the Detroit Free Press tackled some questions about Facebook and journalism on the Poynter Institutes’ Web site. Grimm shutters at the idea of “friending” sources, but he understands the value of Facebook as a networking tool.

Check back for my next post on how Facebook could hurt journalism.

Comments

  1. I never seek out to "friend" sources on Facebook, but often they end up coming to me. I don't mind being Facebook friends with a source, I consider it the modern way of keeping tabs on people you may need in the future, a digital Rolodex.

    It\'s important to note, however, that the sources who usually "friend" me to keep in contact are those who are in charge of the PR of their organization, usually people I used for an event story. But Facebook as a tool for public relations is a whole other issue.

    — Noel Sanchez · Oct 24, 04:41 PM · Parmanent Link to Comment