Data + Media: How can it be used in Journalism and Social Media

Data + Media means a more balanced perspective. In our fast paced world of news, media, and digital data, we need to make sure that our newsrooms are looking at all sides of an issue. To ensure this, we must combine data with information from experts in their field. This type of information is needed to provide us with a more balanced view on important news issues, and allows us to deliver a service that our readers and viewers expect.

What do I mean by “data”? Data is the information that we use to report the news. It tells us what has happened or what is happening, and how much of it has actually occurred. It may be from the government, police, industry, the media or other sources. We use data to tell stories and to highlight key issues. We can use data to answer questions such as; how does air pollution affect life expectancy? How many people are affected by food price rises? What is the impact of climate change on the environment?

Media is simply the information we use to communicate the news. It includes audio and visual news reports, print and online articles, video clips and webpages, photos and graphics, infographics and social media. The data and media that we use to communicate news are used to tell the story of an event, or an issue. We can use these resources to explain, analyse and persuade. For example, in the current financial crisis, the media is using data and media to explain why consumers are finding it difficult to borrow money, and why businesses are struggling to invest.

In order to make sure that our newsroom reflects the views of our community and the wider world, we must use data + media in our reporting. This ensures that the news we publish reflects the issues that matter most to us, and the way in which we choose to inform our audience.

The role of data + media in journalism

Data + media helps us to understand the world around us, and to make informed decisions. For example, we need data to help us decide whether it is appropriate to cover a particular issue. As journalists, we rely on data to understand the facts of a story, and to be able to identify the key issues. We can use data to tell a story, or explain the causes and effects of a particular issue. Data helps us to understand the impact of an issue on people’s lives, and helps us to identify the most important issues to raise in our stories.

They are also used to support our journalism. For example, we need data and media to verify facts, and to check the accuracy of our stories. If we receive a complaint from a reader, or from a member of the public, we can use it to help investigate the claim. It allows us to tell the world a story, or to communicate important issues. 

How we use data + media in the newsroom

We use data and media to present a variety of viewpoints in our newsroom. Some of the ways in which we do this include:

  • Through the analysis of data, we can uncover hidden patterns and trends.
  • We can use data and media to explore the effects of a particular issue or topic.
  • We can examine the impact of a specific issue or policy on the economy, or the environment.
  • We can look at the cost of living, and where there is a lack of affordable housing.
  • We can examine the impact of consumer credit on individuals.
  • We can investigate the effect of climate change on local communities.
  • We can study the effects of international trade, and its impact on the environment.
  • We can study the effects of food price rises, and identify the problems faced by food banks.
  • We can compare the life expectancy of men and women.
  • We can investigate the cost of higher education, and the impact on students and their families.
  • We can assess the value of a university degree

How does data + media make things different?

Data + media makes things different in the following ways:

  1. Offers a powerful new model of storytelling, which can give a more nuanced view of reality.
  2. Provides a fresh way of understanding the news agenda and the political context.
  3. Gives a new model for building an audience.
  4. Propose a model for reporting the news that brings together traditional and digital techniques.
  5. Offers a new way of telling the story of our times.
  6. Suggests a new model for the relationship between journalists and readers, which has direct implications for the structure and function of the news industry.

What are the types of data + media?

The three most popular types of data + media are the following:

1. Social Media

Social media is made up of websites, blogs and other online networks where people share information and ideas. It is very popular among young adults, teens and college students. The main goal of social media is to stay connected with people around the world. It can be used to send messages, make friends, find dates, connect with people, etc. Many brands use social media for development and promotion, and they also use the help of companies such as SocialMediaCalendar.co. In fact, most social media sites are free. You can sign up and use it for free. However, most people want to build up a large number of followers. This helps their pages to be more visible to the public.

2. Online Search

Online search is also very popular among young adults, teens and college students. People use it to find information about products, services and information. It can be used to search for movies, songs, news articles, recipes, etc. There are various search engines available on the internet such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. You can type the keyword you want and press Enter to search. 

3. Online Video

In recent years, online video has become a huge part of the internet. It includes many different types of videos such as music videos, television shows, etc. Many young people use this type of data + media to view movies, television shows, music videos, etc. You can use online video search tools such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, etc. to watch them.

How Data can be used to analyzed Social Media platforms

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc., make use of data in two ways – either for personal or professional use. Data analytics helps users understand the information provided by the various social media sites, and helps companies target the right audience through social media marketing.

Social Media Analytics

In this digital era, everyone is using internet for various purposes. For instance, they are looking for various details such as shopping offers, travel packages, and other similar information. There are many websites where these information is available, but it is difficult to find the accurate one for you. Social media is a new concept in the field of technology, it has a huge following and is used widely across the globe.

The most famous social networking sites are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google Plus. It has changed the world of marketing and business. All these social media networks are very effective in terms of promoting your brand and creating a good user experience. All these social media sites use data to provide users with the content they need, the more you interact with the site the more you get the benefits of freebies.

Data Analytics

As mentioned above, social media platforms make use of data to determine whether a person is interested in a product or not. This helps in increasing sales and generating revenue.

Data analytics helps social media platforms to determine the popularity of different brands and products. When a user views a product, the website can understand how popular it is and make recommendations for it. Social media platforms allow users to view the likes and shares for the posts made on their timeline. The data is gathered automatically when using tools such as Delphix. So, the platforms don’t even require the user to add a link to their accounts.

Some other benefits of using social media analytics include:

  • It provides you with detailed reports on the usage of your social media profiles.
  • You can easily determine what is working and what isn’t.
  • It helps in tracking the performance of your social media accounts.

Data and analytics helps you to get better insights into your audience. A well-researched post will have a high reach on the platform and get shared many times.

So, these are some of the benefits of social media analytics and why you should consider it. Data analytics help in developing your business and marketing strategies and also helps you to reach out to a larger audience.

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash