Twitter has become a breaking news source to users as news channels like CNN, CNBC, USA Today, and ABC News all have Twitter accounts to update people with the latest news stories.
As social media has become more prevalent in people’s daily lives, they seek out news information from their favorite websites.
The Twitter account, @Breaking News, has 6,373,565 followers and updates daily what is happening in the global news forum. “Back in 2011, Osama bin Laden’s demise circulated widely on social media [Twitter] for about 20 minutes before the anchors of the major broadcast and cable networks reported news of the raid at 10:45 p.m,” said Doug Mataconis on Outside the Beltway, an online political journal.
Twitter can communicate information faster than news shows can, said Gentry Bailey, a Spanish education major from Hawaii. “I hear about events way before my family does because they’re old and watch TV for their news. Get with the times guys,” Bailey commented. Twitter quickly announces news events and also allows people to respond and comment on the stories tweeted.
Jon Stewart, anchor of the Daily Show, said in July 2011 that Twitter should not be used as a “newsroom delivery feedback system.” It has become a popular practice with news channels to quote their Twitter followers’ reactions in tweets from the news network. Hawaii News Now has a Twitter account, @Hawaii News Now, and updates followers with local news events as well as world events. Hawaii News Now reads out some of their follower’s comments on their television broadcasts.