26 May 2018

 For centuries print journalism was the source for all the latest news, information, and political updates, but in the last 20 to 30 years, this field has experienced remarkable changes in content, speed and format with the advent of the internet and digital technology. It has caused ambiguity about the role of traditional journalism in a contemporary world.

If I ask you, when was the last time you were updated about the latest news and how did it happen? Did you notice it while scrolling through your social media field with your smartphone? The is how fast and convenient the contemporary Journalism has become and on the other hand print, radio and also TV are becoming second-tier commodities as compared with the new and improved ways of consuming the news.

A long time back the printing press, the telegraph, television and all other forms of  traditional media that came before it has been surpassed by the innovation of the internet, which has not only changed the methods and purpose of journalism, but also people’s perceptions of news media. The big change in contemporary journalism hit hard at the traditional notions surrounding journalists and news companies.

The immense increase in blogger and citizen journalism has gained popularity among both new and old media companies. This transformation has significantly changed the definition of a journalist. Now the Google news does not rely on individual journalists to provide news, but instead depend on their ability to gather and collect information. In short, they are changing society’s traditional ideas regarding journalists and news.

Journalism today is constantly advancing. The number of people reading newspaper has replaced it with a smart phone that has tons of magnificent news apps out there. Thus, online applications of journalism have become the norm among the audience. Televised journalism, which is still relevant, is now merged into videos and linked to various social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and personal blogs. 

But we are not saying that there is a winner or loser in the traditional and the contemporary journalism debate. Let us think of it, rather, as an evolution driven by technology and today’s highly positioned digital journalism platform where how we consume latest news and interaction with the media has changed.