Social Media; A Journalists Best Friend

A recurring message to my clients is the importance of using Social Media to connect with new clients and customers. I am not surprised to learn the results of a recent survey conducted by Cision and Don Bates of The George Washington University, found that an overwhelming majority of reporters and editors now depend on social media sources when researching their stories.



Of the Journalists surveyed for the October 2009 report, almost all (89%) reported using Blogs for story research.

When it comes to publishing, promoting and distributing what journalists wrote, almost two thirds (64%) reported using Blogs followed by Facebook, Linked In, Twitter and You Tube.



Journalists also report using Google as the main tool for on-line research, with Wikipedia rating as the next favorite, followed by Firefox and Yahoo.



Sure, Social Media sources might be less reliable for news reporting. It is still one of the best ways to build an on-line profile for your business and build Media Relations with your local media outlets.

So think of this; when you send a media release or are making a big corporate announcement, the majority of Journalists and News reporters will use the Internet and social media to do their research. Perhaps it is time to really take a good look at what your website and social media sites are saying about you.

Contact me directly if you wish to view this full report.

-Darren

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