How much does traditional news media still matter? A recent report from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism found that more than 99% news stories in blogs linked to outlets such as broadcast networks and newspapers. BBC, CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post were responsible for 80% of all blogged links.

The Pew study gathered a year of data on top stories discussed on blogs and social media, and seven months’ of data on Twitter. The report outlines the major differences and similarities between social media and the traditional press.

As expected, the report found that social media moves quickly and focuses on breaking news. The attention spans of consumers were short, and major news stories were usually off the top stories list by the third day. In the mainstream press, 50% of top stories are still news the next week.

The agendas of each platform varied significantly. Researchers found that the lead story of mainstream news and blogs were the same at most, 13 of the 49 weeks studied. Other outlets such as Twitter, shared the same lead stories in just four of the same weeks.

Most original reporting is still being done by mainstream news outlets and journalists, but the agendas of discussion are being shaped online. The traditional media provides a platform upon which social media builds and diverges, and the crowds are creating a new consumption model that will ultimately shape the kinds of news that is reported.

Visit the Pew Research Center for more information on the study.

Article originally posted at Speaking of Social Media.