Realtors® Get Lesson in Media Landscape from Huffington Post's Howard Fineman

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditional media is still important in campaign and election coverage, but social media has dramatically shortened the news cycle to a minute-by-minute environment.

That's according to Howard Fineman of the Huffington Post, who pulled no punches in his assessment of the news media before an audience of Realtors^® at the 2016 REALTORS^® Conference & Expo.

Fineman said that a fragmented media landscape has created a world where it's possible for people to live "within their own box," consuming news that skews to fit their particular political leanings.

"You used to read your newspaper every morning, and in the old days you used to watch network television," said Fineman. "It's not the leisurely pace of before. Everybody lives within their own ecosystem of belief and fact."

He also noted the rise of social media, calling Twitter "the central nervous system of the media." Because of the rapid-fire nature of social media, however, the pace of breaking news has quickened. As a result, Fineman said it's important for consumers to carefully weigh the information that's available to them. "All of you have to be your own editors," he said. "You need to educate yourself."

With over 275,000 fans on Facebook and nearly as many followers on Twitter, the National Association of Realtors^® is no stranger to social media. Tom Salomone, NAR President and broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida, noted after the event that the business of real estate has been affected by social media as well, adding that Realtors^® work hard to stay on top of emerging trends.

"Whether we're protecting clients from online scams, using drones to market properties or simply putting the latest social media platform to work, Realtors^® are early adopters of new technology," he said. "Staying ahead of the curve is how we stay in touch and continue providing the top-notch service our clients have come to expect."

The National Association of Realtors^® 2016 Member Profile found that 93 percent of Realtors^® said their firm had a web presence, while nearly three-quarters said they use social media.

The National Association of Realtors^®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the "News, Blogs and Videos" tab on the website.

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SOURCE National Association of Realtors

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