Journalism has been going through several major technological changes during the past few decades. The pace of these changes is quickening now, altering the practice of the profession as never before. These changes, which encompass a wide range of activities from news gathering to dissemination, are bringing many benefits. At the same time, the profession faces some negative impacts too.
As you know, the print revolution started with the invention of printing by Johann Gutenberg in the fourteenth century. The next important development was the arrival of telegraph. Many of twentieth century's scoops were transmitted over telegraph and telex lines. The telephones brought in a fast means for the reporter to gather information. However, it was not used much for actual transmission of news as vocal communication was more prone to errors. (I am not forgetting its wider use by reporters working in vernacular language newspapers for dictating news). The telephone, incidentally, gave the inspiration for radio. Parallel to these developments was the evolution of photography, motion picture photography and television.
Computers have now brought about major changes to the scenario. The way reporters gathered and disseminated news is changing. Photography is on a threshold with the arrival of digital cameras. Internet is emerging as a medium of mass communication. That brings in fresh competition to other media, even forcing changes in content.
It is to be remembered that none of the tools used by journalism is its own domain. But in every case, journalism brought in an added dimension and character. Internet began as medium for sharing information among military establishments and research institutions. Now, it is increasingly being identified by the common man as a news medium, as it happened with radio and television.
Last modified: Wednesday, 4 January 2012, 11:01 AM
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