With the migration of journalism from print to the online space, more and more advanced technologies are being utilised in the production of journalism content. One popular technology that is more prevalently used is live streaming on social media for journalistic reporting.
Live streaming is often a feature on social media platforms and is used by both professional and citizen journalists. It is particularly popular while reporting on breaking news stories. When a journalist and or a social media user attend or run into a special event happening, they can use live streaming on social media platforms such as Periscope and Facebook by filming the footage on their phone and sending it directly to their social media followers. Unlike the traditional live crosses used in the television industry, live streaming on social media enables everyone with a smart phone and connection to the Internet to film live footage and deliver it to the broader audience, without requirements of a professional cameraman and equipment. Using live streaming gives an immersive experience to the audience and shows the timeliness of the reporting.
Another usage of the live streaming for audience engagement. Journalists can use live streaming to interact with their audience and receive real-time reactions from viewers. Viewers of the live footage can directly comment, like or share the live streaming and the creator can see the reactions and respond to them. The interactive feature is also used by journalists when they conduct interviews or engage in conversations with a talent with whom want to involve the audience in a real-time conversation exchange. A question-and-answer session can be conducted through live streaming as modern social media technology enables the quick exchange between the viewer and the content creator.
Live streaming facilitates the efficiency of journalism because it allows journalists to report real-time events without the constraint of cameramen or professional filming equipment. It is also often used to engage the audience and promote participation among the viewers by giving it a more viewer-focused feature. The accessibility and broad reach of this technology make it a helpful tool for journalists and media users.
