Broadcazsting and social media

Social media has offered international broadcasters unprecedented chances to reach out to more audiences abroad and also new target groups, like young people and women. They create new research tools for journalists as well as provide alternative information sources to news agencies and the possibility to explore new programming formats. But there are still challenges facing this sharing of information. An example of a challenge for International Broadcasters is still restrictions on the free exchange of information. But on the whole social media are playing an increasingly important role especially in the coverage of events and developments in crisis regions. An example is how the Arab spring unfolded. To help us understand how social media has transformed radio broadcasting internationally, as we celebrate Channel Africa’s 5oth anniversary, we are joined on the line by:
Mathata Tsedu: Adjunct Professor of Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand
Isaac Khomo: Channel Africa’s Senior News Journalist
Yavi Madurai: A social media expert from Black Box Theory