Twitter As a Tool

  Over the last decade new platforms of social media have surfaced onto the face of the internet. One popular website, if not the most popular website is Twitter. Twitter allows it's users to "tweet" almost anything. Things like opinions, events, factual information etc. Furthermore things spread effortlessly on Twitter due to the fact that it takes one click to share someone's tweet to whoever is following your Twitter account. Journalists have utilized such an aspect. Because things spread fast on twitter journalists have posted things with the intention of what they post to get out to a lot of people. Keep in mind anyone can be a journalist. It can happen indirectly you don't need a special title. For example Ramsey Orta, the person who recorded the Eric Garner incident, chose to release the video and it spread everywhere on Twitter. In that manner he was a journalist. Many people receive their news through Twitter. According to Likeable's article, "How Twitter Has Changed Journalism Forever" 52% of Twitter users receive their news through the website. Twitter is very convenient for journalists.  Within seconds journalists can hop on the website and speak their mind in a fast efficient manner. "There are those who suggest that Twitter has had a trivialising effect on journalism. That it is lazy and convenient for journalists to rely on Twitter “outrages” for news.", says an article from The Conversation.