Abstract:
The present study titled by:”Representations and uses of social network sites among journalists" is a descriptive and analytical field study on a sample of Algerian journalists, seeks to examine the social representations constructed by journalists about social network sites which have become a daily journalistic practice means and which have created a new spaces for them that helped to facilitate their functions on the level of communication, information, interaction, access to information and new's sources, interaction with the audience and to know their views and comments.
Our study aims also to identify the aspects of the integration of social network sites in the professional field by the professional use of such sites that included several levels (Follow, participate and share), and then identify the changes added at collecting news and information, correction of information, realizing scoops and the possibility of access to information sources.
We have adopted in this study a descriptive and analytical survey method based on the questionnaire and the semi-directive interviews as data collection tools who felt 200 questionnaires that were distributed manually and electronic plus 20 interviews in Algiers which is the main site of the most media institution.
Among the most important findings of our study is that most Algerian journalists have strong representations on social network sites as a source of information and as an assistant in journalistic practices. For professional uses of social network sites were between key practices represented by: (share/follow: colleague’s publication, accounts/pages of national newspapers, news article topics ...). Secondary practices were (share/follow: publications of foreign journalists, amateur bloggers, actors from politics ...) In other words, the use of social network sites among Algerian journalists is still limited in local communication spaces.
