Today's Viral Video: Fox 4 Pokes Fun at Social Media

You have to love social media to love one of the latest videos that has just gone viral. Funny, how the term 'viral' isn't restricted to describing the common flu anymore. It actually works better to describe what we "catch" over social media nowadays. And mostly, it's something funny. A Fox 4 Social Media spoof which depicts modern day news reporting, is an exaggerated, yet intelligent take on how journalists are bringing us stories via social media today.

We have all seen how tweeting by journalists from the scene of action helped provide valuable information during the Haiti earthquake when traditional methods of reporting were harder to manage. Or, the ways in which TV/Radio hosts interact with audiences over their Facebook fan pages to develop a stronger relationship has reduced the waiting time of phone calls and such. But does using social media mean we confuse that with 'abusing' social media?

It appears that in some cases that is exactly what happens and the ease with which mobile technology allows it to happen, doesn't help its case. The recent FOX 4 Social Media video was actually created to entertain journalists but become a big hit outside the news business- quite rightly so. Within a few days, it has also gone viral and has been viewed by nearly 70,000 people on YouTube.

This hilarious skit was allegedly created by FOX 4's Tadd VanCleve, as a "tongue-in-cheek critique on the increased use of social media in reporting." The video starts with your typical blue newsroom setting where a perfectly made-up anchorwoman announces that there's been a shooting at the City Hall and then follows a storm of social media references.

The reporter begins tweeting to "70-some followers" rather than reporting on camera, one of the female reporters "checks in" a nearby Starbucks with Foursquare to happily report that she just won a free drink, while someone begins to report via Skype amidst the shooting and so the clip goes. No offence, the funniest moment occurs when a reporter poses next to a dead body and posts the picture instantaneously on her Facebook page. Crazy ordeal, but nonetheless interesting. And yes, it's ironic how social media made it go viral eventually.

"The phony clip received rave reviews for its dark humor when it was presented at the Lone Star Emmy awards banquet in Dallas on Oct. 16," reports Kevin Boie.

And yes, social media is helping to spread the word. VanCleve later said: "I didn't expect it to take off like that," he said. "It's kind of an inside joke, but I guess what we do on air people get."

Something I would say, is worth your 3 minutes. Just go to YouTube and find the Fox 4 DFW Roast of Social Media. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Photo Credit: Mike Licht