ABSTRACT
Engagement sets livestreaming apart from one-way Television (TV) broadcasting. But working in the interactive and potentially volatile environment cans new challenges for journalists. Static locations with reliable Internet service are sometimes the only options for livestreaming. Broadcasts coming straight out of TV studios fill Facebook Live, Periscope, and YouTube. Some are completely unidirectional, essentially feeding a television newscast onto a social media platform for viewing. Social media livestreaming is also bringing the radio studio to the interactive audience. Among the 1 million people who joined in the first ten days, journalists came on board and soon began using the tool in their reporting. Even streams with little or no interaction with the reporter or news organization provide the space for conversation among viewers. Volatility during an emergency makes the type of interview compelling, but also carries risk, such as impeding events as they’re unfolding on the scene.
