ABSTRACT
Mainstream media outlets are increasingly turning to the Internet for their news and story sources. Understanding the social media landscape and knowing how to enlist its use is increasingly critical to building a strong communications plan. Social media lets us reach broad audiences and allows us greater control in conveying our message. The new media are part of the Web 2.0 phenomenon, defined as the second generation of Web-based communities and services that created online social media. Understanding the social media landscape and knowing how to enlist its use is increasingly critical to building a strong communications plan. Social media lets us reach broad audiences and allows us greater control in conveying our message. Newspapers and other media sites have begun to link readers to independent blog sites.
