News distribution is coined as “The distribution of news content.” It has always been part and parcel of news production, ever since the start of time and the history of the news immemorial.
Recently, several new social media options have appeared. Many explicitly position themselves as alternatives to more well-known social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, particularly by criticizing the widespread free speech restrictions they claim exist at those sites.
Here are some facts you need to know about news distribution!
Table of Contents
The Etymology
The word news comes from French Nouvelles, used in Bible translations to translate the neuter plural form of Medieval Latin nova, which meant “news” or “new things.”
The English word was understood as single at least by the 1560s. It was occasionally still interpreted as plural in the 17th and 18th centuries. The expression “no news, good news” can be traced back to the 1640s. The peculiar and dubious construction likely explains the ridiculous folk-etymology (attested by 1640 but originally, and in the 18c. usually, in joke books) that claims it to be an abbreviation of the north east south west, as though “information from all quarters of the compass.” The phrase “news to me” refers to the information you were unaware of.
Letters And Messengers
In medieval times, news distribution was relayed via letters and messengers, who passed the message on by word of mouth. Often, it took weeks or months for medieval messengers to relay the news to other parties. They had to brave long days and nights, aside from dangerous terrain and the time pressure.
Social Media
Social media are being used more frequently by the media as a way to access, validate, and disseminate information. Similarly, as mobile news consumption becomes more standardized, the media tests native formats for these platforms. It has also become a platform for traditional and alternative media to distribute their news.
For media practitioners and practices like Brander news distribution, social media is also a strategic tool to find new audiences and keep their loyal followings.
Community
On these websites explicitly proclaim themselves as havens of free speech, most alternative social media news consumers experience a sense of community.
A community of like-minded people has been found by about two-thirds of those who read the news on one of the seven alternative social media platforms (65%).
Related research shows that people who acquire their news from Rumble, Parler, Truth Social, and Telegram are much more likely to view these platforms as welcoming than unwelcoming. Fewer than a third of each site’s news consumers think the discourse there is generally unfriendly, whereas half or more of those who obtain news on each of them describe the talks they see as mostly friendly – ranging from 53% to 69%. According to the rest, they say conversation is about an equal mix of friendly and unfriendly.
The action on these sites occasionally transcends the digital sphere. For example, a third of users of alternative social media for news (33%) claim to have attended a political event in person or another political activity after learning about it on these platforms, and a comparable percentage (36%) claim to have given money to accounts they follow on these platforms.
These platforms pride themselves on being welcoming havens for free speech, and as alternatives to censorship and “cancel culture,” they claim to exist on more established social media platforms. This positioning may help users feel a sense of community on these platforms. Each of the seven websites under examination supports free speech.
Wrapping Up
With the power of social media, learning what is up is no longer as dangerous or troublesome as compared to the journey of medieval messengers traveling to other places to spread the word. As the world has gone online, getting the word about your brand has never been easier. All you’ll need are accounts on Google and Facebook, an Internet connection, and you can just produce a press release and publish it on the necessary platforms where your target audience is.
