Journalism is the gathering, preparing and communicating of news and current affairs. Traditionally this news was published in newspapers or magazines or broadcast via radio or television. In recent years, due to the development of the internet, a new medium has emerged. This medium is the world wide web and it can be utilised in all stages of journalism.
The world wide web assists the news gathering and preparation stages of journalism by providing fast and extensive access to the numerous electronic databases, news archives and contact details available on the internet. Perhaps the most significant changes to journalism through the use of this medium, however, relate to the communication stage of journalism. This format of online publication offers some unique aspects which make distinguish it from traditional methods of journalism.
One of the special characteristics of online journalism is the immediacy offered by the medium. News can be distributed and updated more frequently than is possible in other mediums. Multimedia is another important characteristic of online journalism. Online journalism stories can be complemented with pictures, sounds, animation and videos. Other special factors that contribute to online journalism include hyperlinks and interactivity. (Ward, 2002: 20-22). These individual aspects provide the medium with specific advantages and limitations compared with that of traditional media.
The online journalism movement reflects society as well as technology. As more and more people access the web from home or work, it is becoming a widely available and accepted news source. According to De Wolk (2001: 175) there were almost 100 million people accessing the web in 2001. Today this figure would be significantly larger. As the information can be accessed any time it is a convenient way for people to stay up-to-date on current affairs. The medium is highly recognised within the profession, and universities now teach journalism students medium-specific skills for reporting online as well as maintaining a focus on traditional mediums (Pavlik in De Wolk, 2001: 40-44).
Other indicators of online journalism’s recognition within the profession and society are the modern applications of it now available on the web. Many online news sites have been developed over the past decade. A prominent example is ABC Online. Many newspapers and broadcast networks also provide an online news service, often by using convergence. Convergence in journalism is the reproposing of information from one medium to another. (Wendland, 2002.) Another indicator of online journalism’s place within society is the recognition provided by the Online News Association and the yearly Online Journalism Awards which rewards excellence in online reporting.
Journalism can give rise to various ethical dilemmas. A guideline of ethical behaviours advocating respect, honesty, fairness and independence is provided in the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance Journalists’ Code of Ethics. However, the development of online journalism has given rise to further ethical issues not previously encountered. (Bowd, 2002: 41-59.) This is a challenge for journalists reporting in the online environment.
Online journalism is only a recent phenomenon. It was developed in the 1990s in response to the increasing prevalence of the internet. Print journalism companies were first to experiment in publishing information on the web, but other mediums soon followed suit (Hall, 2001: 228). As technology has improved and use of the internet expanded, this new medium has flourished. At present it is continually increasing its value in the world of journalism.
There is debate as to whether the future of online journalism will see it replace other mediums as it becomes more advanced and widespread or whether it will merely continue to complement them (Boynton, 2000: 29). Although this cannot yet be determined, it is certain there is a big future for the medium. Due to the rapid rate of technological change online journalism will continue to evolve. Expected progress for online journalism is more interaction and increased ability to personalise the experience for individuals (Millison, 2004).
Further information on online journalism is available at Online Journalism. Good examples of applications of online journalism can be found at ABC Online and BBC Online. Specific information about some issues central to applications of online journalism can be found using the links below.
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Hayley Rayment 11:51, 10 Sep 2004 (EST)
