Ethical dilemmas on social networking sites : focus group discussions with journalists and news consumers

Abstract

No longer are journalists the exclusive gatekeepers of information, nor are they the sole agenda setters in the public sphere. Social networking sites (SNSs), like Twitter and Facebook, have brought professional journalists and news consumers closer than ever before, both in terms of the closeness of their online interactions and the defined roles they play in the process of gathering and disseminating information (Broersma & Graham, 2013). By understanding both groups' expectations of privacy regarding information posted on these two SNSs, we can begin to create a unified understanding that will prevent emotional harm and will promote more positive online interactions. This research study utilized focus groups with professional journalists and members of the public to better understand how these two groups interact online, as well as the potential ethical dilemmas that concern both groups.