[FAQ]

Hi,

I’m a journalism student in the UK, and I’m doing a project on how different social platforms are used for news. I’ve noticed several large news outlets, like the NY Times and The Guardian, have Telegram channels, but they seem to use them in different ways.

I’m trying to understand what the most effective strategy is. Is it just for broadcasting headlines and links back to your main website? Or is there a deeper way to use it for reporting?

I’m especially curious about its use in conflict zones, as I’ve heard it’s popular there. How can journalists or a whole news organization leverage Telegram’s features (like channels, groups, and its security) to not just distribute news, but to actually gather it and engage with an audience in a way that other platforms can’t? Any insights or examples would be brilliant.

[Jeff Bullas]

This is a very insightful question that gets to the heart of the platform’s power.

Short Answer: Journalists use Telegram as a dual-purpose tool: first, as a high-speed broadcast channel for text and video, and second, as a secure text and file-based tool for gathering source material.

The platform’s effectiveness comes from its unique ability to handle raw media formats and secure, encrypted communication.

Firstly, for news distribution, organisations use channels for broadcasting immediate, short text-based alerts and headlines that cut through the noise. Secondly, and more critically for reporting, is its use for raw media. Journalists and citizens in conflict zones use Telegram to distribute unfiltered video clips and image files that other platforms might censor or compress, providing a real-time, on-the-ground feed of events. Thirdly, for gathering intelligence, the “Secret Chats” feature allows for end-to-end encrypted text-based conversations with sources, which is crucial for protecting identities. Fourthly, this secure channel is also used to receive sensitive document files, such as leaked reports or spreadsheets, that cannot be sent over traditional email. Finally, reporters in the field can use short audio messages as a “field dispatch” format, providing quick, personal updates and analysis when filming a full video is not possible or safe.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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