Times’ Stelter speaks on social media at BYU campu

            New York Times media writer Brian Stelter addressed a group of BYU students Wednesday, speaking on the several impacts social media has upon government. Standing before a full Lee library auditorium, Stelter discussed the advantages of communicating with public officials afforded by new innovations in social media.

            “The notion of more two way communication between the public and the politicians or the regulators is something that is equally profound, I would argue. We’ve always had elections. We’ve always had that way to communicate our feelings. But now we can do it in a much more direct way and a much more personal way.”

            Pointing to the ever-growing use of Facebook and Twitter among politicians, Stelter argued the development of a more socially active government. And with more means of one-on-one interaction with elected officials, Stelter sees increases in governmental accountability and transparency.

“(Social media) does allow two-way interaction that couldn’t have happened before. It’s great to go to a town hall meeting. It’s great to stand in line and ask a senator or a congressman a question. But now we can have many more personal and direct ways of doing so, without having to travel, without having to hope we have a chance at the microphone. We have new ways in other words to hold our leaders accountable.”