Traditional versus Social Media News Coverage: An Analysis of the Topic Selection Priorities

Abstract

The current study was carried out on framing the ongoing debate on the inter-relationship which exists between social media and traditional media news coverages. Its particular focus is to analyze how both mediums focus on their topic selection when it comes to prioritizing an issue to be presented at the top. By employing the content analysis technique of the Facebook posts and newspaper articles the study tried to sort out to what extent differences exist in traditional media and social media coverage with respect to the selection of the topic in Pakistan. The researchers used Chi-square tests to weigh up the use of alternative media and the frame selection of social media in the selected timeline. The study concluded that social media and traditional media react differently when covering social issues. Social media showed better interaction patterns on grass root issues whereas traditional media focused more on covering political issues.