Journalism, Technology and the Internet - Essay Example

Journalism and the Internet Without a doubt, the role of technology has been immense within the different fields of life for a long period of time now. It does not cause much commotion when one understands the role of technology within the field of journalism. It is a fact that a proper use of language does have a long-lasting impact on the minds of the audience. The role of Internet, coming from the domains of technology is something that needs to be understood properly within the studies related with journalism. This is because Internet has, of late, played a quintessential role in the journalism ranks. Internet has helped develop the speed with which reports get fed in the news channels and newspapers. It has eased up work as well as made the element of giving quick reports possible. The aspect of live reporting has also been made possible with the advent of Internet and more so in the field of journalism alone. It has been proven by recent studies that the masses have stood up and taken due notice of the role of technology within journalism and have generally appreciated the very fact which brings upon a positive influence towards their respective lives (Berger, 1998). This paper specifically discusses the role of Internet and the newer forms of online communication under the domains of journalism and discerns the relation between these newer media and journalism within the broader contexts. The notion of technology working for the benefit of journalism is a very important one in the time of age of today. This is because technology has manifested growth and development for the people who are related with the field of journalism in the last 2 decades or so. The Internet has helped shape up the way the work gets done. The reporting has become much easier. News stories are prepared at the end of the reporters and producers and then transmitted to the channels where these get encrypted and thus read out or printed over the local medium (TV, radio or newspaper). The use of expressive vocabulary has in essence built a much needed bridge between the provider and the receiver of this information, which has actually made the journalistic viewpoint more liable to creating a solid impact on the minds of the viewers, listeners and readers. The audience is thus getting the message fast and they now do not have to rely on the traditional media vehicles for confirming a particular piece of news and/or reporting which had been done the earlier day. Things have started to change with the advent of the Internet and one can deduce from this fact that this indeed is a very positive sign. Similarly Internet has brought about the element of instigation amongst the different publics for which the journalistic viewpoint has been designed in the first place. There have been reports that have included provocative wording, catch-phrasing as well as issues that have been dramatized in the wake of the news stories that needed a more careful approach towards their eventual destination – the audience itself. The element of bias has thus crept in for all the wrong reasons, within the folds of the Internet, relating itself entirely with the journalism stance. Technology, of late has been used for all the wrong purposes and effects – a fact that is openly accepted by the owners of these different media vehicles and Internet websites (McCullagh, 2002). They have their own set agendas which essentially mar the very basis of being unbiased right from the word go. The need is to be proactive and truthful in their approach, however what they get out of this entire endeavor is nothing else but sheer disaster for one and all. Therefore the need is to have a balance amongst the different technological regimes and the varied manifestations which crop up every now and then under the umbrella of journalism, one that is for the betterment of all and sundry. Through the Internet, the technique of using opinionated news has been brought to the fore. This has meant that the reporters have used their respective judgments in order to ‘angle’ a story’s stance. This is a very decisive step towards the eventual ‘make or break’ element of the said story. The audiences of the Internet rely on the authenticity of the source through which they gather the news. Proper to suggest that if this reporter tries to incorporate his own viewpoint and that too for ulterior motives, with the assistance of fast-paced Internet, this ‘wrong’ and opinionated story can do much harm towards the eventual stakeholders. It could destroy someone’s career, family life and reputation in essence. What Internet tries to downplay is the element of bias, however much of it is already present within the relevant ranks, and that too in a fairly good capacity (Edwards, 1982). Similarly within the field of politics, where the need is to depend on one’s ability to sell another’s opinions, the Internet journalism can literally make or break one’s political career. This is indeed a very pivotal tool towards the manner of building up perceptions within the audiences who are glued on to the magic of the Internet. The role of language is thus a very significant one and can have positive and/or negative repercussions towards different stakeholders. Internet highlights the manner in which political stunts are cashed about. This is important to comprehend in the time and age of today since there are a number of different people who depend on the end results of such linkages which come about due to a host of reasons. Internet gives the online users a kind of difference which they like to see independent of the traditional media domains. It makes them look well-informed of the different news reports and stories as well as keeps them wired with the people who matter most within their relevant business and friends’ circles (Burgh, 2000). Within the world of the Internet, the journalists are being seen as the ‘watchdogs.’ This is because they have been accepted by the society due to their work regimes. Their reporting mechanisms have been properly accepted and the manner in which they come within the domains of the general public is something to write home about. Their role is often taken too seriously. This raises quite a few concerns. Firstly, their mistakes are often deemed as solid evidence in the wake of an event or the story that they aim to cover. Secondly, they are usually seen as very genuine within their work processes. The Internet users forget the fact that these journalists might just pursue their ulterior motives and hence try in one way or the other to sabotage a person, a political party or a movement by their ‘tilted’ stance – a case which demands strict vigilance on all such watchdogs. These watchdogs thus have a duty to be truthful about their tasks, actions and behaviors and signify to one and all their true commitment towards the field of journalism. Their angle must be balanced at all times to suggest that the field of journalism does not depend on biased individuals, no matter how skilled they are at the end of the day. What matters is the manner under journalism comes about in full circle and affects the lives of the people in a positive way. The 24/7 online catalogs on the Internet, or most often known as the Internet news websites have helped the cause of journalism in more ways than one. This has happened due to access being made possible for the sake of the Internet audiences who get hooked on to different sites and thus gather news, report and analyses on a consistent basis. They seek the news which is local to their respective domains as well as the global news that is readily available to them, without much cost and effort. The websites have made the gathering of different news very easy as these do not charge in terms of costs as well as are up to date and timely. The live element of giving news in the wake of the different events, catastrophes, sports matches, political congregations, musical concerts and so on has only helped journalism manifolds. The field of journalism has also been assisted by the spread of channels that are joining the bandwagon which comes along with the media boom (Rowe, 1995). Nearly every TV channel and newspaper has its own website, which puts up its news reports and cover stories on the Internet. The work of journalists thus gets doubled and they are more than happy to be playing such a role nonetheless. The manner in which Internet has facilitated the whole basis of journalism coming to the fore is something which can only be accounted for growth and development within this very field. There is absolutely no one at loss and it is surely a win-win scenario in the end. Globalization has helped the manner under which growth has happened in the field of journalism, over a passage of time. This is said because globalization has helped develop the constant wave of moving forward for the betterment of all and sundry. The element of these people discussing the different world events as if they were related to themselves has made the notion of journalism and interesting one. It feels as if journalism on the Internet has brought about a much needed difference to their respective lives, though this may not necessarily be true. In the broader contexts of things, journalism has assisted in shaping up the ideas when people draw their attention towards these global events and take a leaf out of this book within their own respective lives and undertakings (Pavlik, 2001). They try to relate the same events in the light of the global turmoil that is taking place, no matter the same having drastic effects on their lives all the same, as well. The relational angle seems imminent here and the reason for this is that people grab what is fed on to them. They try to digest these news stories and reports with a sense of understanding and empathy taking place on their ends. They also like to make opinions, which are freely given space on the Internet (Davis, 2003). The role of blogs thus seems as an interesting one – more blogs have started to appear under the political news’ wings than any other. People like to discuss what they feel. They do not like to hide. The Internet users have joined up communities which allow them interaction with like-minded people as well as with the ones who have not so alike ideas. Thus what globalization has done to the world of Internet seems pretty ravishing and there are a number of solid reasons in the wake of such a comprehension; the first one being their influence due to these events news stories and events. Secondly, they try their best to be a part of the global dynamics of news, by making their respective viewpoints apparent to one and all. Thirdly, they try their hand at raising their voice through the different protests and demonstrations for events and political problems which have engulfed people thousands of miles away from them. Thus the Internet activism phenomenon takes its basis from such endeavors and thinking mindsets. There is much room available to ignite and cultivate such action basis. The need is to properly understand the true meaning behind Internet activism and then try to use it in a correct methodology, for the sake of the different publics, notwithstanding the role of the Internet audience as well. Blogs, online communities and discussion forums only help the Internet activism regimes to inculcate similar ideas and concepts on an out and out fashion, time and time again. The ideology is to be proactive and consistent, the rest the audiences can understand for their own good and/or bad. Journalism seems to have a bigger impact when the news stories, reports and events which are covered over the Internet are relayed back and forth. This implies that these stories and live events are given a proper run over the Internet and hence the audiences understand the true meaning of journalism taking place within their lives through this new medium. The online connectivity issues aside, Internet proves to be a very beneficial tool in order to keep track of a particular event, a specific news item or a story which has been making waves for a long period of time. Similarly for travelers all around the world, getting the same TV channels and newspapers in different parts of the world seems a difficult proposition. However what they can keep track of is the fact that these channels and newspapers have their distinctive websites which transmit data and voice over the Internet (Lowrey, 1999). These travelers thus have an interesting time as far as their respective expeditions are concerned. Their work gets easier and they also concentrate on the different tasks in a better manner. The experience of journalism over the Internet seems an exciting prospect and more so for the different resource-owners who build websites so that audiences could remain in touch all the time. It is a fact that more news channels and newspapers have had their websites put up on the World Wide Web after the 9/11 event than ever before. Perhaps these companies have realized that the online audience needs to be informed too. Journalists who complained of step-motherly treatment from their organizations when it came to putting content on to the Internet now enjoy a rags-to-riches story. They have understood the true meaning of being online and remaining loyal with the end user, who is in essence taking in all of the information which is coming his way (Rodgers, 2003). It is a fact that there has been a propagation of culture via the Internet and journalism has been able to inculcate such ideas in a fairly extraordinary way of late. Thus Internet is a very significant tool in promoting goodwill and harmony amongst people hailing from different regions of the world. Quite rightly so, technology has made its distinctive headway in the different possibilities which the world of Internet has had to offer. It has come about in full circle with the assistance of different news channels and newspapers devising their own audience-specific websites and blogs. The aspect of Internet activism once again, is one which must be understood properly here. It asks of the people to stand up and make their voice get heard within the thick of things, and is generally a very decisive tool at the end of the day. Internet activism is thus also referred to as e-activism or cyberactivism. The different use of e-mails, blogs, websites and podcasts for the propagation of message across the different domains of the Internet and with the assistance of citizen movements and peculiar organizations, deliver the message which could also be transmitted over the more traditional vehicles of the media – TV, radio, newspapers, billboards, leaflets, etc (Murphy, 1998). However Internet activism has come about as a new winner in the modern times due to the fact that it has been able to create a very powerful message, if not the most powerful one yet. The efforts are in place to make people acquainted with the effects of Internet activism and it is hoped that soon the time will come when the results would be there for the taking. In the end, this discussion brings towards a suggestion for the sake of the journalists’ fraternity. These people need to comprehend their individual as well as collective responsibilities towards the people – for whom the message is being devised, analyzed, transmitted and received in essence. With a sense of accountability coming in to these areas of journalism, people will realize that Internet journalism is here to stay and that too for all the good reasons one could muster. One must realize here that the different events, circumstances and situations which crop up every now and so often within the field of journalism brings to light the important responsibility of the journalists which they owe towards the society. They need to understand what the society wants of them and hence they must deliver the same role in a very dignified form. It is about time that the journalists realize their precise responsibilities and deliver. (Willis, 1990) All said and done journalism and the use of Internet need to work hand in hand so that the benefits are there for the taking. One must not forget that the moral and ethical issues within the field of journalism have to be kept under a strict check, just like the other forms of traditional media. Bibliography BERGER, Arthur. (1998). Media analysis Techniques, (2nd Edition), Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage BURGH, Hugo De. (2000). Investigative Journalism: Context and Practice. Routledge DAVIS, Richard. (2003). 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