How the news media is using social media during Wagner IV trial

Reporters use social media platforms to both publish news, get their news dispatches back to their newsrooms and also to interact directly with their readers.

In trials — and other live news events — the use of social media platforms is increasingly important as readers rarely go directly to news sources websites to find their news. Rather, they follow Twitter handles, Facebook pages or subscribe to You Tube channels — or Instagram, TikTok and others.

In the the southern Ohio mass murder trial of George Wagner IV, the judge has restricted the media from having cell phones or laptops in the courtroom, thus impeding a reporter's ability to "live-tweet" the trial. Instead, reporters file their dispatches via social media on breaks. This will continue when testimony begins in the Rhoden family massacre case with opening statements on Sept. 6.

Here's a look at three platforms, reporters are using:

Twitter:

• Reporters are writing brief dispatches on news developments in rapid-fire fashion during breaks. They are also using @their news outlet to communicate the news back to their newsrooms for broadcast.

• They are also taking photographs and video and showing readers what they see, such as the crime scenes, which jurors visited Wednesday on.a school bus and repeat again on Thursday.

• I set up a Twitter list (right) of reporters who are covering the case as a way to aggregate their tweets and see developments quickly. The list is public, meaning anyone can follow along.

• UNL CoJMC alumnus Patti Gallagher Newberry is starting every morning recapping trial news and discussing what it is to come that day as a way to engage with her audience and to take readers outside the courthouse.

• Readers and others can also send direct messages (DMs) to the reporters to ask questions.

Facebook

• Most news outlets post up-to-date stories/video/photos on their Facebook pages to help distribute the news of the day to their followers.

• News outlets likely will use the Facebook Live function to broadcast live video dispatches from the courthouse during particularly newsworthy days.

• Reporters are also using Facebook to post stories to their accounts.

• Some reporters are part of private Facebook groups that have been following the case. Reporters can then interact and answer questions in those groups. Reporters need to be approved to be part of a private group.

You Tube

• Taped motion hearings — and surely the court testimony — is / will be posted to media outlet You Tube channels.

• Angenette Levy, a correspondent for the Crime and Law Network, is using her You Tube channel to discuss the day's court events with her followers. She also takes reader/viewer questions in her 30- to 40-minute conversations.