News and media outlets are flooded with the news:  Kate is in the hospital and the royal baby is on his or her way.  Excitement about the impending birth of the royal heir and forecasts of baby names aside, the way by which the birth will be announced is quite fascinating and of course, steeped in tradition.  I found this article from the Associated Press, which describes the exact protocol for announcing royal births.  According to the article, the official announcement will come in the form of a bulletin delivered straight from the hospital to Buckingham Palace, official with palace letterhead, posted in the frontcourt on a wooden easel – along with a post on Facebook and Twitter.

This royal birth will be the first to be announced using social media, which is not a surprise considering the last royal birth took place during pre-Internet days and social media continues to evolve and build its audience.  According to a survey conducted by the Pew Internet Project in December 2012, 83% of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 use social media sites.  Between 2008 and 2012, social media usage has jumped from 35% to 67% among online adults.

In this ever-changing digital landscape, where do you go to find news information?  A favorite online newspaper?  Social media?  Google News?

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Brenner, Joanne.  Pew Internet: Social Networking.  Pew Internet & American Life Project, February 14, 2013, http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/March/Pew-Internet-Social-Networking-full-detail.aspx, accessed on July 22, 2013.

Lenhart, Amanda.  Adults and Social Network Websites. Pew Internet & American Life Project, January 14, 2009, http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/Adults-and-Social-Network-Websites.aspx, accessed on July 22, 2013.