This story was broadcasted via Facebook Live. the link to that video is Here
Alternatively, it can be downloaded via the link below
Reflection:
Taking advantage of the world’s biggest social media platform to create or improvise a journalistic tool is a difficult proposition; especially when the bulk of noise on social media is just that; noise; inaudible and unintelligible. Narrow a service down for the pure purpose of broadcasting news to the millions upon millions of people who used it, and you’re in for a challenge. So far, Facebook Live has been used by celebrities to broadcast important messages relating their status or upcoming events, used in political elections, and even used as a means of obtaining live video footage of a policeman shooting an unarmed black man. It was a relatively shattering realisation that live feeds without the filtering of TV networks is both a curse and a massive tool for reporting without bias.
Obviously selection of news and pinpointing what facts to explain can lead to a sort of confirmation bias; i.e. recognising the facts that you want to share and ignoring those you don’t; but as a medium to spread news to whoever’s following you (for a news network, that’s probably young people who get their news on social media, for a sporting page it’s people who follow a certain area of sport, etc.) it’s a key tool to reach the biggest expanse of people on the internet, without needing to worry about geographical boundaries.
For my individual story; the use of Facebook Live as a tool to broadcast live from a football game (the kind of thing done on TV broadcasting networks during live broadcasts) is a practice that’s been done before but takes advantage of the Facebook audience. Reaching viewers who’d be keen on sideline reporting from a football game is enhanced by the notion of second screens; i.e. when a person (usually someone aged 15-35) is watching television, there’s a correlating screen whether it be a phone or an iPad where someone’s viewing their social media or messaging someone. In this instance; Facebook Live works as a sideline reporter for someone with a second screen; as well as someone who’s unable to watch the game itself but wants to keep up with the score. What we provide is instant access to an environment that may have a place or event of interest transpiring within it; in this case, a FFA Cup Game between Melbourne Knights (the fourth biggest team in Melbourne) and Cockburn City from Western Australia.
