Social Media as a Helping Tool for Journalists: A Study on the Use of Facebook, X, and Instagram by Mardan-Based Journalists

This study investigates how Mardan-based journalists utilize Facebook, X, and Instagram. It focuses on how useful social media is for them in carrying out their professional duties. The study intends to investigate how often and how journalists use Facebook, which particular features and functions they find most helpful, what kinds of content are shared, and how the pros and cons of using Facebook for professional journalism are perceived. Thirty journalists in Mardan were surveyed using the study's convenient sampling method and quantitative approach. The findings show that although journalists use a variety of social media sites, Facebook stands out as a particularly helpful resource for information collecting and distribution. The results provide credence to the theory that social media, particularly Facebook, helps journalists fulfill their professional obligations.