INFORMATION FLOW ON NEW MEDIA AND ITS CREDIBILITY

Abstract

New Media embarked on its journey as a socio-cultural reference to groupings of outlier viewpoints in contemporary society. This media is about networking and communicating through text, video, blogs, pictures and status updates on sites such as Facebook, My space, LinkedIn or micro blogs like Twitter and Snap chat or messaging app like WhatsApp. It is a highly interactive platform via which individuals and communities co-create and discuss content by exchanging messages and comments. Interactivity distinguishes social networking sites from traditional ('static') websites.

What makes new media of particular interest to journalism is how it has become influential as a communication and news-breaking tool. However, the other side of the coin is very disturbing. As the online world is “loudâ€, social media messages are heard far and wide and very quickly. The uninterrupted and unregulated flow of information on new media poses a grave threat to the civil society.

Undoubtedly speed or immediacy aspect of the new media rules the roost. But information without credibility and accountability may prove to be catastrophic.