| dc.description.abstract | Social media have changed the landscape of journalism by providing both opportunities and risks (Lee, 2015; Lee, 2016). While news organizations want journalists to incorporate social media into their work (Adornato & Lysak, 2017; Molyneux, 2015), journalists face the risk of termination if their social media activities are misaligned with the organization’s values (Adornato & Lysak, 2017; Lee, 2015).
Managers play an important role in guiding news organizations, especially during uncertainty (Lowrey & Gade, 2012), but news managers are usually slow to adapt to change (Sylvie & Gade, 2009). Journalists are knowledge workers who do not want to be overseen, thus making it harder to incorporate journalists into the news organizations’ missions (Drucker, 2008; Dal Zotto & Van, 2008). Through in-depth interviews with journalists and managers (n=22), this study explores the similarities and differences in perceptions of journalists and managers regarding social media use, journalistic professionalism, managers’ roles, and the effectiveness of policies in managing journalists’ social media use.
The study adds to the limited scholarship regarding the management of social media in the newsroom. The data shows there remains confusion and uncertainty among journalists and managers on how to use social media and how to manage those activities. Managers and journalists have different views on managers’ roles as they perceive social media somewhat differently. The data also suggested journalists seek guidance from management to reduce uncertainty regarding their social media use, but managers are not always living up to those expectations. | en_US |
