This document summarizes research on how social media is changing how people consume news. It finds that social media users are more likely to get news from social networks than traditional sources, with friends' recommendations playing a big role in their news diets. These social news consumers also value diversity in their sources and are open to non-traditional outlets. The growth of social media means audiences now have more power in shaping news flows and reframing issues.

1. Share, Like, Recommend
Decoding the Social Media News Consumer
Alfred Hermida
Journalism Interactive
University of Maryland, 28 – 29 October, 2011

2. Social networking map 2010
http://www.flowtown.com/blog/the-2010-social-networking-map

3. The networked audience
Marwick and boyd (2011)
Photo: Luc Legay http://www.flickr.com/photos/luc/

4. Sharing the news
Photo: Pricklebush http://www.flickr.com/photos/pricklebush/

5. The Canadian example
6S Marketing: http://www.6smarketing.com/canadian-facebook-statistics/

6. Percentage of social media users
Twitter updates: news 10
organization/journalist
Twitter updates: friends and family 18
Social networks: News 20
organization/journalist
Social networks: Friends and family 43
0 10 20 30 40 50
Social networks as news sources
(Internet users who visit social networking sites at least monthly; N = 1059)

7. Percentage of social media users
Exposed to more news and information 59
Find first-hand information about 63
important events
Keep up with news and views 71
Find out about social or community 76
events
0 20 40 60 80
The appeal of social news
(Internet users who visit social networking sites at least monthly; N = 1059)

8. Individual blogger
News / commentary website
International news website
News aggregator
Radio new website
TV news website
Newspaper website
0 20 40 60 80
Online news consumers High social media users
Medium social media users
News sources on a typical day

9. Attitudes to journalism
Use of social media in news reports Use of Twitter by journalists
32 36 26 39
32 34
Yes No Unsure Yes No Unsure

10. The social news consumer
• Importance of social
recommendation
• Social media use
begets comfort with
social media
• Friends as news editors
• Editorial disaggregation
Photo: Travis Jon Allison http://www.flickr.com/photos/whybesubtle/

11. The social news consumer
• Mix of traditional and
social sources
• Open to non-
traditional news
sources
• Canadians value
diversity in news
Photo: lotusutol http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotusutol/

12. Networked publics
• Reframing the news
• Shaping news flows
Photo: wouldleywonderworks http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/

13. Thank you
• alfred.hermida@ubc.ca
• @hermida
• New book out now
• All royalties go to Reporters Without Borders