social media

Kelly, who covers technology both on air and online for the Independent Irish radio station, said that social media, while you “might not agree with what it has to say, never sleeps and is always engaging”.

She went on to outline what the multitude of different social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, has to offer in TV and radio. As with many things in life, she added, posts offer “the good, the bad and the ugly”.

In a short time Facebook Watch has come a long way. Rarely a week goes by without its parent, Facebook, attracting negative publicity for allegations that someone, somewhere is using the social media behemoth for nefarious purposes, with or without the possible involvement of the Russian state.

By contrast, the video-on-demand service Facebook Watch appears to be immune to such criticism. One of its first scripted shows, the 10-part Sorry for Your Loss, starring Elizabeth Olsen, won the kind of reviews that most commissioners would die for.

“Building a buzz 3: social media masterclass” in late September was the third in a series of linked events run by the RTS centre over the past 18 months, following “Building a buzz: what makes a good PR” campaign and “Building a buzz: what makes a good promo”.

My name is Richard and I used to be a social media evangelist. Yes, I know, it’s shameful and hard to believe. But, back in the 2000s, the infant social media held such promise for broadcasters and audiences alike. In those sun-dappled days, we used to talk about the promise of interactivity, empowering the audience, real connection and insight into their thoughts and ideas. All this and free distribution!

The director of TV social media outfit SMMS added that half of viewers also look up the hashtag of a show to see what people are saying.

At an entertaining and informative masterclass, Booth argued that it makes sense to use social media to engage with audiences. “Social media is transforming the way people experience TV,” she said. “They’re using it to decide what to watch.” 

The panel of film marketing specialist Jo Taylor, Eximo Marketing founder Andi Jarvis and RTS NI Chair and Stellify Media joint managing director Kieran Doherty discussed the influence of social media platforms on audiences at Belfast arts venue, the MAC.

The panel was chaired by Hugh Odling-Smee, project manager of Film Hub NI, one of nine hubs around the UK that aim to increase audiences for independent cinema.

Evans oversees all of the social media platforms for Sky News and manages the channel's relationship with those platforms - an exciting position to have in the midst of an impromptu election period. 

There is so much online engagement surrounding the election, how much does social media represent the voting public and how can Sky get the facts across in a way that will interest people? 

We spoke to Evans about how people engage online during an election, how Sky News use social media for such events, and what they have in store for election night.

When Bernie Ecclestone’s reign as Formula One’s ringmaster finally came to an end earlier this year, it was accompanied by a frisson of disbelief. Until that moment, it had felt as though the former used-car salesman who had built Formula One from a disparate cottage industry into an $8bn business was indivisible from the sport he bestrode.

But, in taking the decision to oust the 86-year-old from a meaningful management role, the sport’s new owner – Liberty Media – was underlining its intention to modernise a product whose appeal appeared to be flatlining.