Social Media Changing the World of Sports Radio - 8 News NOW

Social Media Changing the World of Sports Radio

LAS VEGAS - Social media have dramatically changed the way information is spread, and there isn't a better example than in sports radio.

JT the Brick is the only remaining nationally syndicated sports show host in Las Vegas. His nightly show is built around listeners calling or tweeting comments and observations about sports.

"It's the biggest change in my career," he said. "When I started, you had to read a newspaper during the day and maybe catch SportsCenter at the top of the hour to get some highlights. Now during my show, I have a Twitter feed up, Facebook up. I have my iPhone open."

There are pros and cons to almost every new innovation. Social media bring fans and athletes together, but they can also tear fans apart.

"The negatives are athletes not having that filter, racist rants," JT said.

The immediacy of tweets or Facebook posts gives every sports fan or athlete a platform.

"I know that owners and general managers are very concerned about what some of their athletes are saying, because it only takes one bad tweet, one bad Facebook post to bring negative attention to not only the athlete, but to the organization," JT said.

Unfortunately, some hide behind the technology.

"I call them Internet assassins," JT said. "There are a lot of fans, some of them are cowards. Other people hide behind social networking. They establish fake Twitter accounts."

JT once worked with scrolling computer screens. Now with social media, it seems his life has come full circle.

"I have two or three computers in front of me. I once worked as a stockbroker. I almost feel like I'm watching the stock market, but I'm doing it with sports," he said.