Social Media Club Austin #SMCA August Panel was on "Is Social Media Replacing Traditional Journalism?", held at KLRU in the Historic Austin City Limits Soundstage.

The news of bin Laden's death broke first on Twitter. Mitt Romney officially announced his VP choice on a phone app. In fact, over 50% of people learn about breaking news over social media rather than official news sources, and 46% get their news online at least three times per week.

It's a new media world now, a digital information age with a 24/7 news cycle, citizen journalists and an ultra-connected, smartphone-toting public. But has social media helped or hurt traditional journalism? If content is king, where should the public look to find timely, credible news?

In this August panel, local media pros discussed the impact of social media, both positive and negative, on traditional journalism, including news organizations, editorial talent and a sometimes skeptical public. Panelists covered timely topics such as political reporting and Olympic coverage, as well as the role and reality of citizen journalists and mobile news consumption. (from smca website)

Panelists were:
+Nathan Bernier Nathan Bernier, Senior Reporter at KUT 90.5 FM
+Maira Garcia Maira Garcia, Social Media Editor at the Austin-American Statesman
+Emily Ramshaw Emily Ramshaw, Editor at The Texas Tribune
+Cindy Royal Cindy Royal, Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Texas State U
+Dara Quackenbush Dara Quackenbush, strategic communications consultant, will moderate the discussion.
Jenni Lee, Anchor/Reporter at Fox 7 News

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