Date of Award

Summer 2024

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

School of Journalism and Mass Communications

First Advisor

Brett Robertson

Abstract

Accessing news media and the coverage of current events has become streamlined and exponentially easier to access due to the explosive growth of internet usage and by extent the increase of social media usage. As this form of media continues to evolve and becomes not only more accessible, but accepted by a variety of audiences, some parties may seek to find or create their own public spheres of influence online to share information and develop conversations relevant to the participants therein. It is here where the concept of digital storytelling becomes a heavy influence on how the individual not only receives their knowledge but shares it back into their respective public sphere. This study therefore examines the influence of the public spheres found within social media and the knowledge not only provided but sought therein through the means of digital storytelling compared to legacy forms of gathering news information (television, newspapers, etc.). Using a correlation analysis using expected interactivity to measure how the individual interacts with their content and measures of gratification through social media usage, this study seeks to understand what level of interest individuals have in accessing further information through avenues of using social media.

Rights

© 2024, Patrick Bush

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