Media Communication
Katerina Voynova
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
E-mail: ksmile@abv.bg
Abstract: Digital and online developments in technology have resulted in definite changes of the the media sources of information. Social networks are becoming increasingly popular in both Bulgaria and the world. The aim of the article is to trace the role of social networks in building news in the Bulgarian online media (including newspaper and television sites). The study analysed news that contains links to two of the most popular social networks – Facebook and Twitter. The selected examples are from the period of 2019 – 2021. The aim is to study the current trends in the formation of news in online media taking into account the role and place of social media and celebrities’ profiles in connection with current events from national and international spheres. The results of the analysis largely confirm the hypothesis that social networks occupy an important place in the news. This also requires a change in the obligations of journalists who should already monitor the profiles of politicians and popular people on Facebook and Twitter. This in turn leads to changes in the media ecosystem and in the journalistic profession.
Keywords: social networks, news, Facebook, Twitter, hypertextuality, online media.
Rhetoric and Communications Journal, issue 47, April 2021