In recent years social network applications have taken on significance as the environment in which journalism does its job. Social media offer resources, engagement and distribution, among other things.

Now a study from George Washington University affirms and quantifies the trend in newsrooms to embrace social media. The report found 56 per cent of those surveyed believed social media had value in their work. Of those, nearly 90 per cent had used them.

That still is slightly less than half the total, but it's a growing number year over year and ought to continue to do so.