Michael Whitlatch

I think social media is changing both how we get news and what becomes news in the first place. A story can gain attention because people keep sharing it, not necessarily because an editor decided it was important. That gives everyday people, independent journalists, and smaller organizations a chance to bring attention to issues that traditional media might overlook. The downside is that news now competes for attention the same way advertising does. A dramatic headline or an emotional video can get more attention than a well-researched story. People often react to a headline or share a clip without reading the full article or checking the source. By the time someone corrects misleading information, the original post may have already shaped people’s opinions. To me, the biggest concern is the difference between being informed and being engaged. Just because a story gets clicks and comments does not mean it gives people an accurate understanding of what happened. Social media makes news faster, more accessible, and more open to public participation, which can be valuable. But it also puts more responsibility on each of us to check sources, look for missing context, and question stories even when they support what we already believe.

I mainly use Google Docs for drafting, editing, and collaborating with clients. It makes it easy to track revisions and keep feedback in one place. I use Google Sheets to organize article topics, sources, and deadlines, and WordPress to format and publish finished content.

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