Sports Journalists' Use of Social Media and Its Effects on Professionalism

The rise of social media gives sports writers new avenues for gathering information. This usage raises ethical issues that challenge an already-technologically morphing industry. In this pilot study, Minnesota-based sports journalists were interviewed about their use of social media, the effects Facebook and Twitter have on their news gathering practices, the ethics of pulling direct quotes from social mediums, and how these mediums have blurred traditional lines between sports writers' professional and personal relationships.