The effectiveness of journalism lies in its ability to be on the move. And with the 20th century, traditional journalism melded with the alternatives that the internet provided, to supply quick, around- the- clock news. Hence the introduction of contemporary journalism brought together traditional prints and radio formats with newer online and video platforms. Now news can be accessed online at all times. It is updated by the minute and opens the floor to conversations and exchange of opinions parallel to these updates. Journalists too benefit, as they can easily reach their contacts via professional networking sites and the e-mail service. Further, the near future promises to popularize audio based journalism through podcasts and audio- activated platforms, offering us new ways to access news.
The story coverage by journalists today, also gains a global audience; hence individuals are informed about news from all around the world. It provides the opportunity to cover stories that would otherwise be considered time consuming and expensive. Open news chat rooms and other social media platforms become a forum for free speech, broadening the range of public discussion. Political ideologies can be openly expressed by all sections of society. The delineation of cultural activities and other issues that showcase the changing dynamics of everyday life from politics, international news and business is also being addressed. The traditional distinction between hard and soft news is being bridged. A fitting example is how feminist theorists indicate the implications of sexuality and familial power relationships in the political and economic sphere. Other than this, contemporary journalism is an effective tool for propagation of cultural traditions and identities. Online news platforms enable the contact between diverse perspectives in society, facilitating mutual understanding.
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The very same issue poses a threat, however, as one cannot constantly monitor the power relations between those who come in contact online, and the adverse effects of the dispute that may arise. This transition to social media platforms also affects the credibility of the news that is offered. Conversations over news are often riddled with incorrect, unverified facts and information, by which public opinion is often influenced. As discussions on contemporary journalism progresses, individuals become wary of the social media and its negative impacts on the news cycle. That being said, the presently adopted fast- paced lifestyles pushes the population to access news on their phones. This points to the increasing importance given to more visual mediums of news reportage.
As the news media becomes more sensational, its inaccuracies skyrocket. Journalists rush to put out new content for better ratings. Hence, this commercialization of news impacts the sustenance and relevance of news media content. This phenomenon also leads to the dramatization of news, resulting in the loss of objectivity. This progression towards entertainment jeopardizes the aim of educating the populace, and assuring them sourced, verifiable and credible news. This issue is also affected by the transparency between the journalists and the audience that leads to higher levels of expectations. Other than this, journalists and the viewers are free to gather data from social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Google. This often leads to unaccounted news facts and heated discussions over fake news that is rapidly circulated online.
Lastly, active viewers on social media platforms break stories before news organizations. The responsibility of setting the news agenda is unplaced. Does the social media set these agendas or does the responsibility remain in the hands of news organizations? Gandhi believed- “the sole aim of journalism should be service. The true function of journalism is to educate the public mind... and to give definite and fearless expression to that mind.” While the distribution of editorial content online has various merits, the question remains- will journalism still persevere towards what it initially set out to do?
WRITTEN BY - AASHIKA PRABHAKAR
REFERENCES
https://journalism.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/journalism-globalization.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268519883_Journalism_and_Globalization
https://www.centennialcollege.ca/centennial-college-blog/2018/april/06/five-ways-contemporary-journalism-is-changing-and-how-to-prepare-for-it/
http://thecityjournal.net/innovation-in-2017/rise-social-media-contemporary-journalism/
https://medium.com/@ankitsingh1/what-is-the-importance-of-journalism-in-contemporary-india-d0640eeebc7b#:~:text=India%20lost%20its%20prestige%2C%20culture,pride%20in%20our%20cultural%20heritage.
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