As more organisations source – and rely on – eyewitnesses from social networks in breaking news situations, the pressure to be the first to publish a photo or video can result in journalists bombarding people in potentially dangerous situations with requests.
The closing panel of the news:rewired conference, today in London, explored how newsrooms approach eyewitnesses on social media, discussing best practices for situations where time is of the essence, as well as issues of copyright and ownership.
The panel was:
- Rachel Rodriguez, social media producer, CNN International
- George Sargent, social media producer, Reuters
- Hazel Baker, digital news editor, Sky News
- Eoghan Sweeney, journalist, Storyful
Moderated by: Sue Llewellyn, founder, UltraSocial