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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Wasim Ahmed
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Emerald Publishing Limited, 2018.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of NodeXL in the context of news diffusion. Journalists often include a social media dimension in their stories but lack the tools to get digital photos of the virtual crowds about which they write. NodeXL is an easy to use tool for collecting, analysing, visualising and reporting on the patterns found in collections of connections in streams of social media. With a network map patterns emerge that highlight key people, groups, divisions and bridges, themes and related resources.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a literature review of previous empirical work which has utilised NodeXL and highlights the potential of NodeXL to provide network insights of virtual crowds during emerging news events. It then develops a number of guidelines which can be utilised by news media teams to measure and map information diffusion during emerging news events.FindingsOne emergent software application known as NodeXL has allowed journalists to take “group photos” of the connections among a group of users on social media. It was found that a diverse range of disciplines utilise NodeXL in academic research. Furthermore, based on the features of NodeXL, a number of guidelines were developed which provide insight into how to measure and map emerging news events on Twitter.Social implicationsWith a set of social media network images a journalist can cover a set of social media content streams and quickly grasp “situational awareness” of the shape of the crowd. Since social media popular support is often cited but not documented, NodeXL social media network maps can help journalists quickly document the social landscape utilising an innovative approach.Originality/valueThis is the first empirical study to review literature on NodeXL, and to provide insight into the value of network visualisations and analytics for the news media domain. Moreover, it is the first empirical study to develop guidelines that will act as a valuable resource for newsrooms looking to acquire insight into emerging news events from the stream of social media posts. In the era of fake news and automated accounts, i.e., bots the ability to highlight opinion leaders and ascertain their allegiances will be of importance in today’s news climate.
Author(s): Ahmed W, Lugovic S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Online Information Review
Year: 2018
Volume: 43
Issue: 1
Pages: 149-160
Print publication date: 27/02/2019
Online publication date: 24/10/2018
Acceptance date: 17/09/2018
Date deposited: 28/06/2019
ISSN (print): 1468-4527
ISSN (electronic): 1468-4535
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-03-2018-0093
DOI: 10.1108/OIR-03-2018-0093
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