Date of Degree

5-2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Program

Business Administration

Advisor

Annette Craven

Advisor

John Perry

Advisor

Trey Guinn

Abstract

This mixed methods study explored how 10 television journalists and photojournalists handled social media’s integration and its impact on television news. A quantitative survey modeled after Moore and Benbasat’s (1991) instrument using the Diffusion of Innovations theory as a foundation measured how participants adopted social media in newsgathering and dissemination. Through qualitative one-on-one interviews, data revealed that participants believed social media was advantageous in collecting and reporting television news. Television journalists were able to locate sources, experts, and visual images. Social media allowed participants to report live from the scene and deliver news quickly. The innovation enabled participants to connect and interact with viewers and promote their personal and professional brands. The use of social media has encouraged station managers to be first with information, albeit adding concerns of releasing false or incorrect information. Both television journalists and photojournalists realized that social media forced them to become more creative storytellers. This study uncovered how social media transformed television news, its impact on the workload of television journalists, and if the use of social media triggered concerns for the quality and accuracy of content. Results from this study explained the need to understand a changing business model, the potential for news to go wrong, and the rise of multimedia journalism.

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