On Monday night, I tuned into CNN to watch the Republican Presidential debate and as usual, I really wasn’t expecting to see any changes in broadcasting from years past. Turns out, CNN is using social media to build up hype and create a more interactive audience. During the debate, they posted QR codes on the screen along with the hashtag, #cnndebate for Twitter users.

Scanning the QR code with your smart phone will allow you to see exclusive content on CNN.com, and will also provide other links to participate, including John King’s Facebook page. Seeing this used for the first time on a major broadcasting station for a political debate is a huge! This truly shows how much of an impact social media has really made on todays society. I was personally shocked to see the QR code and Twitter hashtag displayed on the screen! It makes me curious to see where they will include them next! I think many perhaps feel the same, which is just another great marketing tool to bring back the same viewers.

Since the election in 2008, so much has changed in the online world, Facebook and Twitter have grown exponentially in the last few years and everyday that passes another new way of communication is developed. It’s no wonder they are implementing some sort of social networking into political broadcasting. It’s only a matter of time before we start seeing these changes more frequently. Welcome to the new era of communication in broadcasting, this is only the beginning…