Many social media platforms have changed the way audiences consume news and how journalists operate, and since the implementation of TikTok, more users are hooked than ever before. According to Forbes.com, TikTok was the number one app downloaded globally in 2022, with 672 million downloads. Here in the United States, 99 million people downloaded the app last year (Koetsier, 2023). With TikTok’s popular presence, it revolutionizes the relationship between the audience and journalists to allow them to connect with a younger demographic. TikTok’s societal relevance has not only been elevating, but elevated like never before due to the high engagement and viewership from people across the country. With the slow decline of viewership in local TV news, connecting with viewers is more important than ever. TikTok plays a massive role in delivering the news, especially to viewers who do not have time nor inclination to watch the 6 p.m. news. Journalists can deliver news on TikTok – usually in one minute or less – that is always available to the viewer. TikTok is important to increase content and audience engagement by providing viewers who are already on the platform with fast and constant access to news. While digital areas on news websites exist, adding coverage TikTok provides the viewer with a quick on the go experience while already on the app.

Originally to be completed by 2018, the Honolulu Rail Project has gone vastly over budget and has created a variety of issues in relation to the local culture, state finances, and project engineering. This thesis investigates the issues of the rail project and impacts they’ve had on the State of Hawai’i.