Jody Vance explores how journalism has changed from the time broadcasters would be confided to newsrooms to the current era of social media, whereby individuals are free to express their thoughts without being limited by institutional bureaucracies. Vance recognizes social media as a game-changer in the way people interact and share information. However, the platform has its benefits and shortcomings, which require prudence during communication to avoid misinformation and tainting one’s reputation. The benefit of engaging with a public audience in a media space is that it widens an individual’s network. Moreover, it opens an avenue for more improved ideas. Through criticism, one can improve his thoughts and appreciate different points of view. However, for public figures, there is a risk of destroying their reputation in a heartbeat. A misperception is likely to be associated with one’s character, and it may be challenging to regain people’s confidence. An open communication policy when using social media, whereby broadcasters leave their inboxes open for comments and criticism. She also notes some comments are nagging and water down ideas. The best way to respond to the deconstructive criticism is to avoid the ones against social media policy. Moreover, to avoid distraction, the negative reviews and comments may be read after the end of a season, for example, at the end of the year.

Notable people use social media to expand their networks by developing Personal Learning Products that were trending on social media and give the viewers his professional opinions.  By expanding her PLN networks through Instagram and youtube, even in Twitter, she constantly networks, the perfect example would be one of the successful influencer Jefferey Star. He started a makeup channel on Youtube. Basically, he would make comment on the beauty and make-up became famous and she started to create her own beauty brand and became the rich billionaire. The networks help him to bounce back on their careers or platforms whenever they face challenges and give the attention and the cloud he needs to make business. Another example was in the article, where the author manages to bounce from one job to another through the PLN she had developed. When she met Larry Gifford in the United States, the two had never met physically before, but he took note of her wide network and following (Miller). Being in the public eye gives one a platform to be an opinion maker, despite it being challenging due to the constant attention and criticism. Employers can build an online platform that is regulated by their policies. Such a platform is beneficial because it provides uses with guidelines to guide their interactions with third parties. However, it limits the users’ ability to express themselves on specific issues that the employer has sanctioned. Moreover, delivering credible information depends on the reliability of sources. An effective PLN can facilitate reliability if it is comprised of authoritative individuals in specific industries. For example, for media personalities like Vance, the weight of their opinions and observations is founded on reliable sources. Veterans minimize the risk of sharing misinformation by verifying the references and avoiding the excitement of handling new information.

Social media will thrive in the gig economy because it allows individuals to express themselves on multiple subjects without being restricted by institutional policies. People also choose online learning networks composed of professionals in different fields who can provide reliable information on varied topics. However, for public figures, the platforms should be used cautiously because they can lead to irreparable reputational damage despite widening one’s network. For veteran journalists, like Vance, adapting to the change can elevate them above the mainstream media’s diminishing influence and remain relevant in their profession.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Hirst, Martin. Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism. Routledge, 2018.

Miller. “EDCI 338 – Jody Vance.” YouTube. 28 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgZOJgJkdyI