How important is social and participatory media to newspaper readers?

Readers use social and participatory media to interact with news products that they read. Here is an example of a Twitter post linked to the story about politician Grayling who is being criticised for signing a deal for a ferry service with a company who did not own any ferries. This deal was made to increase ports continuing ferry crossings, should Brexit cause too many problems at the traditional ferry ports and block access to the continent after March 29th.

Audiences can read a story online and then share it with their network using Twitter or Facebook. Readers may only hear about the story online, without ever buying the newspaper product, but by being online it may raise the profile of the brand. The news story is then debated by a huge number of people, as part of an online discussion via Twitter or Facebook, with networks of people offering their own opinions and ideas about the story. This has changed how audiences use news products but it has huge implications for how newspaper companies generate enough income to survive.

Revision Tasks:
1. In the image, the story about Conservative politician Grayling is being criticised by The Observer. Why might an Observer reader enjoy reading this story? Consider their political views about Brexit.

2. Look at the Uses and Gratifications theory. What needs might online news provide for audiences that the print version of the newspaper might not?

3. Consider who has tweeted this originally and why?