Positive Phenomenon of News on the Internet - Coursework Example

Abstract News on the internet has emerged as an important medium of information dissemination, with a variety of impacts on the way news is communicated. Among the most important effects this new medium has had are: increased convenience in the way in which news is broadcast or published and received; a seamless combination of traditional forms of media (like newspapers and television); and, the increased access to information otherwise unavailable to individuals for a variety of reasons. This information revolution has broadened the scope of journalism and bodes well for quicker and more detailed communication and reporting as newer technologies aid this process. Introduction The history of news reporting is replete with the introduction of newer technologies that have helped expand existing modes of communication and revolutionized the means through which individuals gather and respond to information. The previous century, on its own, was witness to several of these technological revolutions and innovations, moving from telegraphic communication to news radio, and programmatic news television to the instant connectivity and reach of the Internet. Of course, with each step in this process of technological progress, questions were raised about the salience and impact of newer sources of information dissemination. The same remains true for the current revolution in news reporting that the Internet has brought about, and the purpose of this essay is to study the effects of the same, and to argue that the internet has indeed been a positive development in the field. Convenience of Internet News The most obvious impact the Internet has had on news reporting is that of expediting the process between the occurrence of an incident and the time it takes to inform the general public. Indeed, “[j]ournalists in this medium have the unique ability to publish news events as they happen” (De Wolk, 2001, p. 175). However, what truly aids this process is the convenience with which news can both be accessed and updated. For instance, major newspapers enjoy readerships in the millions, while television news carries the import of visual and aural aids, which heighten the experience of receiving news. However, it is difficult for either of these mediums to provide constant updations of changing situations; while televised news can still respond to new events on the ground, newspapers must wait till the following day to notify their readers. Internet reporting does not suffer from any of these constraints: as and when news breaks, journalists can use the medium to update remote readers and even use the visual and aural aids like televised news. More importantly, however, the convenience of Internet reporting lies in the manner in which news is now accessed. While the ‘world wide web’ establishes a network of connectivity between hundreds of millions of people where the transport of information is cheap and instantaneous, the Internet also affords the luxury for individuals to access news at any time of their choosing. This helps maintain a balance between awareness and productivity, since the Internet can be used in one’s free time to find the latest developments, without compromising on work hours. With the click of a mouse, one can save this information for future reference or print the same as a permanent record, thereby increasing the quotient of convenience. Advantages over Other Media The Internet enjoys a great advantage over other forms of media in that it can mix their best components to deliver a news experience that is truly unparalleled. Combining the analytical rigor of print journalism with the audio-visual appeal of television reporting, the Internet provides a compelling source of news attractive to any observer. But, given the free agency that governs Internet publishing and the constant innovation in network technologies, news on the web escapes the traditional boundaries or constraints of time, space, and interface. Online news is not merely about information distribution; it is also about information sharing. This crucial distinction helps us understand the interactivity that pervades the proliferation of Internet news reporting. Public opinion is openly sought through online polls and comments, whereby every nugget of information can become a source of an informed debate in which the participants represent diverse social, cultural, religious, and national identities. “Hyperlinks, blogs and discussion forums allow web-users a more hands on experience, allowing them to be participants in the news process” (Ward, 2002, p. 89). Through these mechanisms, the Internet allows the news recipient to become more involved in areas of specific interest or concern, while simultaneously informing them of contending perspectives and analysis (those being the inevitable result of a free-flowing debate). The express significance of this environment surfaces as the exchange of information validates ground level situations or dispels myths. In addition, this new medium has advanced the opportunity for anyone with the asset of an Internet connection to become a news correspondent – through independent initiatives, like weblogs – and sharing a brand of information that is personal and largely opinionated, yet highly enriching. Further, the amount of information that can be published and archived on the Internet remains boundless, meaning that news online can be reported not only in greater frequency, but also with greater detail and documentation. The limitations that, say, a newspaper may suffer from the shortage of column space, or a radio broadcast or televised coverage from the shortage of air-time do not operate when it comes to the Internet. Increased Access Perhaps the biggest gain from this information explosion through Internet news reporting has been the voluminous increase in the range of information available to any individual at any given time. Unhindered by the constraints of time and space, news online is able to focus not only on matters of political, economic, and social relevance, but also on such events and developments that traditional media might consider unimportant, irrelevant, or plain frivolous. However, many such occurrences might bear a personal significance for individuals, who now have the opportunity to stay informed about the matters through the Internet. The web, therefore, has emerged as an invaluable resource, since “the internet allows individuals to access a range of different information that might not necessarily be available to them for a variety of reasons, e.g. geographical position” (Hall, 2001, p. 32). Indeed, in traditional media, geographical location has remained a primary affront to the reception of accurate and detailed information on faraway parts of the world. More often than not, events in a different hemisphere – unless deemed to be of the highest importance – would receive only a cursory glance. Even in the case of news that report massive changes or upheavals, follow-up reports gradually peter out and further developments lose significance to more local concerns. The Internet removes this obstacle for keen followers of worldwide events, giving them unbridled access to resources and material otherwise not in their grasp. Further, news on the Internet also incorporates a degree of freedom (in both information provision and expression) that can circumvent certain invisible barriers to knowledge. Take, for instance, the case of state-sponsored media. Individuals in such countries may only have access to selective or fabricated information, which then obscures an accurate understanding of important developments. Access to the Internet can, in these cases, unravel the cloaks of secrecy and misinformation and enable people to make informed decisions. News on the Internet, therefore, performs truly remarkable functions and helps bind the fabric of the ‘global village’ that we now inhabit. Conclusion As our exploration of the effects of the Internet on news reporting has shown us, this new medium is undoubtedly a positive development that has broadened our idea of what correspondence and communication can achieve. Traditional forms of media have had to take a hasty note of the unparalleled potential of the Internet as a source of news; this becomes evident if one survey the online service offered by the most popular and important sources of (traditional) news. Whether it is the New York Times News Service or the British Broadcasting Corporation, whether CNN or Time Magazine, every major news provider had to adapt to the newer technologies employed by the Internet by developing online supplements that have over time become online complements. It should not surprise us, therefore, if the Internet becomes the primary medium of news reporting very soon. References De Wolk, R. (2001), Introduction to Online Journalism: Publishing News and Information. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Hall, J. (2001), Online Journalism: A Critical Primer. London: Pluto Press. Ward, M. (2002), Journalism Online. Oxford: Focal Press. Read More