International News Flow and Social Media Networks: A Survey Of Stranglehood By Western Media

This study was undertaken to ascertain the international news flow and social media networks: a survey of stranglehold of Western media. The objectives of the study were among others: to find out if new flow debate is still relevant with the emergence of social media networks in the news production and distribution and to find if the traditional media is still setting public agenda in this era of social media networks popularity. The method used was descriptive survey design. The study, however, using secondary data from the Pew Research Centre’s Project for Excellence in Journalism (2021), social media online clippings and library content. The instrument for data collection was secondary data for the study was gathered through the use of this study, however, using secondary data from the Pew Research Centre’s Project for Excellence in Journalism (2021). This enabled the study to collate first hand data and information on the phenomenon under study directly from the target population. Data collected were analysed using quantitative method which were presented and analysed entirely using simple percentages and would be arranged in frequency tables. Findings show that social media channels are already neck deep in setting agendas for public discourse. These results also show that there are similarities in daily or weekly issues for discourse between the social media networks and the traditional media organizations. Where they differ, it is even observed that the public line up behind the social media networks because of it is participatory, interactive and free of obvious charges (cost) nature. The study concluded here that traditional media are no longer setting the public or media agenda alone. The emergence of social media networks has reset the calculations, opened up the space and attracted more participation in what people think they should be talking about. Soc