The development of online Journalism

The internet satisfies one of the most basic needs of a human being: the need to be heard. It has also made information more accessible and given people a valid medium through which they can voice their opinions.

It is the perfect tool for the post-modern era providing the ability to dispense vast amounts of information to an information hungry audience. An example of the extent of this growing desire for information is evident in Paul Theroux’s book Chicago loop where he informs us that raisins have a mineral-oil glaze on them which causes ‘anal seepage’. Such is the post modernist pursuit for information, however trivial or irrelevant.[1]

But the internet did not start out as venture to satisfy the curiosity of the people: it was initiated in1969 by the US Defence Department Advanced research Projects agency who commissioned Arpanet to research four networked computers. This research was then taken further to develop a communication network which could be used to communicate transparently across multiple networks. This was called the Internetting Project.[2]

The first few interactions of the media with the internet were in 1981-82, by the New York Times, Washington Post and the LA times who experimented with content on Compuserve, which was then an established and leading consumer online service. Consumer online service paved the way for the interactive media of today. Readers could write movie reviews and short stories,[3] and it was the beginnings of an online community.

However it was later that Tim Berners-Lee wrote the program of the World Wide Web: a space where people could freely communicate and share information.

Since one of the main aims of journalism is to share information, the internet is a potent medium, however very underestimated by most big media because they are unsure how it will prove profitable. Nonetheless, with the growing use of the bloggers and the ‘blogosphere’ now the media cannot afford to ignore the audience.

Dissension amongst the Ranks
The audience has now become a big aspect of the media, for a long time the media enjoyed the monopoly as the only purveyor of information but now, given the tools of the internet even the average citizen enjoys this status. This intimidates the big media, when in fact it could empower it further, because of the untapped potential of the internet.

Amongst the many tools the internet offers, it also provides a lot more depth into a story by way of hyperlinks. Newspapers and magazines as mediums have a lot of limitations, like that of space and time. For example once a newspaper is printed out, it is not possible to update information on a particular story, on the same day. However on a website a story could be updated as and when developments happened, satisfying the audience’s demand for information a lot sooner.

Articles on the internet, when optimally used, can also provide a greater amount of reader and writer interaction, an aspect almost non-existent in older mediums. Slate an online magazine has used this to its advantage, through a feature called “The Fray”, where the readers can post their comments or input on the story. Slate actually does take these suggestions into consideration and also acts on some of the suggestions. Not only making the story richer in content, but actually involving the readers and validating their inputs.

Even if the news medium completely ignores the audience, people will find means to be heard, a powerful example is stated in We the media: Senator Trent Lott made a statement on fellow Republican Senator Strom Thurmond’s 100th birthday, who was reputed for his racist past, to the effect that America would have been better off had Thurmond won the presidential campaign that focussed on the preservation of segregation.[4] This was an offensive statement, which the media did not react to sufficiently, but the people did not let it go as easily, there were a burst of responses by webbloggers and other online commentators, which gave the story its due importance. As a result of this pressure Lott had to resign as a majority leader.

This was just an example of the power of the internet, which if harnessed effectively by journalists, can have a tremendous impact on the field of journalism. However then arises a threat of a loss of power and exclusivity over news and information, which journalists and the big media have wielded for a very long time. This reluctance to distribute power amongst the people is the major source of their suspicion of webbloggers and the internet.

There is evidently a revolution in the societies all over the world, and the internet is just a medium. In 2001 the people of the Phillipines used mobile phones and PC’s to help bring down the corrupt Filipino government. In the US, republican challenger McCain used the internet for fund-raising and raised over six million dollars through the internet. This is indicative of the power of the people and they are not willing to just be informed - there is growing need for participation.

The extent of the desire to take control of the reins from the powerful few could be seen in South Korea- where the site Ohmynews rocked journalism with an unprecedented concept. It was a news site embodying the spirit of citizen media; here the stories are written by ordinary citizens. It also holds great influence over the people; it has been credited to have helped elect the nation’s current president, Roh Moo Hyun.[5]

Journalists have very little option but to acknowledge the changing face of the field because of the internet. However the transition to the new era of journalism need not be one into which the journalists have to be dragged, screaming in protest. If embraced by journalists, as the audience have; the internet can prove to be just what journalism needs to satisfy the information hungry audience, so they will not need to take matters into their own hands, and ultimately render journalists obsolete. (1001 words)




















[1] Akbar S.Ahmed,2004,Postmodernism and Islam, Routledge, New York
[2] http://mateoy.wordpress.com/
[3] http://mateoy.wordpress.com/
[4] Dan Gillmor,2006, We the Media, O’reilly publication USA
[5] Dan Gillmor,2006, We the Media, O’reilly publication USA

Post offices axed this Christmas

To most people the post office immediately brings the image of stamps, to others it’s a place to send a parcel; and to some it’s a place to collect pension. Undoubtedly the post office plays the most important role for the older people: for them the post office is a place to go, get connected to the world they otherwise feel disconnected from - and not to mention catch up on the local gossip.

Sadly the this multi-faceted enterprise is nearing extinction, especially in Wales. Particularly at a time like Christmas it seems very inopportune, especially for the few people left, who do send cards.

Inconsistent with the image portrayed by the government, of desolate post offices, the post office on Salisbury road was bustling with activity. The sub-postmistress, Mrs Akbar, did not seem to have a second to spare. She said” It’s the Christmas rush, it’s so busy now.”

Mr Phillips (68) a customer at the Salisbury Post office was busy searching for the perfect Christmas card. He said “I’ve come here to send Christmas cards to my children. It’s also a good excuse for a walk.” Mr Phillips is not alone. In a poll conducted by the BBC, several older people claimed having a post office close to their house was almost a necessity. Mrs Akbar agreed “This where pensioners meet to get their pension and benefits.” Since a lot of older people do not drive, the proximity of the post office is important. Going to the nearest town for their pension, by bus, does not seem like an easy option for them.

However the government does not seem to be relenting in its pursuit to shut down the unprofitable enterprises. In the last four years the government has shut down 2000 post offices. Rural Wales was the hardest hit. Mike German, leader of the assembly Liberal Democrats, said that if action was not taken between 60 to 80 per cent of post offices in Wales could close down.

This is worrying for the people running the post office. Mrs Akbar did not know whether her post office was one of the many to be shut down, she had not been informed.
She however seemed very pragmatic about it “There is no rush, once the government does decide which post offices to close, it will take at least a couple of years for it to happen. There is a lot of red tape involved.”

Once your favourite post office is shut, it does not mean it’s the end of the community as you knew it. There are ways the community can go about saving their local post office: it would involve a lot of effort on the part of the community. A successful attempt to reopen a post office by the community was the post office in Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire. It reopened in time for Christmas to stamp the post with its famous biblical stamp. (491 words)

Saturday night fever in Cardiff

Loud sirens, wailing ambulances, drunken brawls. It’s Saturday night. Cardiff on a Saturday night sounds less like fun and more like a city under attack. It is under attack, the unlikely weapon is alcohol.

Alcohol abuse in the UK has grown to such a tremendous degree, that in October Health minister Patricia Hewitt, demanded an increase in taxes on alcohol.
In Cardiff the number of teenagers bingeing is rising rapidly. A study conducted by the University of Wales College of medicine found: the age at which young people begin drinking is decreasing, whilst the amount consumed is increasing.

Whether the proposed tax increase is the solution is debatable.

Mr Kosta Adamakis, head doorman at the Glo bar in Cardiff is used to dealing with drunken and disorderly behaviour - a by product of bingeing. He said “The aim of going out on a weekend is to get drunk.” As he was speaking a group of young girls walked up to the door. He asked them for their identification, satisfied, he continued “It’s difficult nowadays to tell the age of the customers. If we let someone who is underage in, very often they get drunk, they fall down the stairs, and cause damage to themselves and others.” He also added “fortunately not many teenagers go to bars: they prefer drinking out on the street or in parks.”

Pc Rhydian Boast, of the alcohol misuse team in Cardiff, shared the same view, “Teenagers acquire alcohol mostly from supermarkets. A lot of them don’t go to clubs and bars.” He went on to say “A huge problem we now face is, groups drinking in the park opposite the city hall.”

Accidents caused by alcohol misuse are another growing concern. The police department has a special procedure for weekends, called Cardiff after dark. It demands that extra ambulances and policemen from other departments be on standby. A lot of the main roads also are closed off during weekends.
“We’ve had to put these precautions in place because of the casualties” clarified Pc Boast “we’ve had a lot of alcohol related accidents, mostly in the dodgy streets of the city centre not so much in clubs.”

As for a tax increase on alcohol, Pc Boast reckons “it might deter a few, but it will not solve the problem of the growing numbers of teenagers binge drinking.”
Although high prices might dampen the spirit of some, this is a fever that will not be cured by a bitter pill. Health Evidence Bulletins Wales states, community involvement as well as attempts to limit the availability of alcohol and regulate the marketing and sales practices of local merchants have demonstrated effectiveness.

The Cardiff Council spends £700 pounds every week on clean-up operations, in the park opposite the city hall. The community is unknowingly hosting the virus.
It would be far more effective to prevent the spreading fever through various community based programmes, than trying to cure it through taxes. (500 words)

Assignment for 16-11-06

What is the story?
Alcohol related accidents and deaths in the last year

Why tell it now?
With the government increasing tax on alcohol, it is a good time to write why it would be a good decision.

How am i going to do it?
Contact the police station with regards to alcohol related crime and hospitals as well.