Date of Graduation

12-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Journalism (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Journalism

Advisor/Mentor

Foley, Larry D.

Committee Member

Ledbetter, Robyn S.

Second Committee Member

Hu, Sisi

Keywords

social media; journalism practices; Uses and Gratifications Theory; news consumption

Abstract

This paper examines how the current climate of mainstream media is changing, and how this may affect journalistic norms and practices. There are many outlets for consumers to receive news, including traditional media, such as television news, newspapers, magazines, etc. There is also social media. The future of mainstream media outlets, like television stations, newspapers, magazines and radio stations, seems to depend on the growing use of social media sites for the use of getting news. This research will focus on Instagram as an alternative to traditional media, and why people prefer to use this outlet to get their news. Particularly, the research will investigate whether social media users turn to it for their news for the purpose of entertainment, convenience, to pass time or to gain social information. It will also examine what newsrooms are doing to adapt to these changes.

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