Media: “…the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely…” (Dictionary.com) Well into the internet generation, a new form of media has emerged: the online newspaper. Starting with word of mouth, the journey of communication has led us to this new development for the computer age.
In the beginning, news was spread by town criers and gossip. Before written language, that was the only way to communicate anything. Even after, the mass distribution of publications was difficult, and news was spread through towns as hearsay. Perhaps one of the most famous instances of word-of-mouth reporting was Paul Revere’s “Midnight Ride.” With only a cry through the streets, he quickly spread his important news to the masses, allowing them to seek shelter from the British troops.
Beginning with pamphlets which briefly gave the reader information on an important event, printed news has developed into the newspapers read today. Still an effective mode of communication, it has carried through the ages of other mediums; radio and television.
With the invention of the radio, a new wave of mass distribution of news began. Now, families could hear the stories, the speeches, and more importantly the instantaneous reports of breaking news. The next development included the public even more in the stories. Television allowed for video clips and pictures to accompany the news, bringing the viewer closer than ever to international events.
Now, the newest development on the chain of communication evolution is of course, the internet. In the age of instant gratification, obtaining a story online in the time it takes to find the remote and turn to your news channel has become a necessity for some, especially young people. With the fast pace of today’s society, as quick as television and radio are, it just is not efficient enough. As it is happening, news can be spread internationally with the click of a mouse, where as printed media must go through the process of collecting data, processing graphics and printing an entire newspaper to get a story to the public, and even then the audience is limited. Television and radio news limit stories to only several minutes or less, thereby limiting the coverage.
Some still stick with their traditional news sources, or a combination of both, depending on the time and place. More typically the older generation will continue to obtain news through their tried-and-true sources. The internet, however, is more convenient in this day and age when one spends a lot of time at the computer. The internet’s popularity is the fastest growing of any other mass medium ever. In just four years after the development of the Internet, the number of users reached 50 million, whereas, radio took 38 years, and television 13, to reach these numbers. The internet provides sources and opportunities that radio, television and newspapers could never. It is a balance of all, though, that will keep the media industry thriving.
|
