Although the apparent interest in news has become an integral part of social life, the definition of news, the practices by which news is gathered and disseminated, and the impact of news on human interaction have changed dramatically over time.
The twentieth century has witnessed a series of technological developments which have influenced modern and contemporary journalism also. Film news reels, radio and, of course, television changed the way journalists gathered and presented news as well as the way the public viewed and understood ongoing events. Some observers now believe that the way in which political campaigns are covered by television is the most important factor in many elections.
However, the interaction between journalism and technology has never been more dramatic than with the emergence of Internet as a widespread medium of communication in the 1990s. At the beginning of the decade, few journalists and fewer still affiliated with mainstream, mainline media had even heard of the Internet. By 1994, journalists on the leading edge were predicting that the Internet would fundamentally change the way their colleagues would go about doing their work. By 1997, the Internet was an integral part of the practice, presentation and social impact of journalism.
Not only did the Internet diffuse through journalism more rapidly and more completely than other once-new technologies, computer-mediated communication and the Internet has had an impact on every aspect of journalism. The Internet has emerged as a new medium of publication, a new tool for reporting, and a new focus for journalism education. Moreover, the Internet has raised new questions about the social responsibilities of journalists to inform the public as well as the ethical practice of journalism. Finally, the Internet is an international medium. Consequently its impact has been felt around the globe.
The explosive rate at which the Internet has penetrated every aspect of journalism has made it an endless topic of speculation and debate among journalists, scholars and the general public. But since it is so new, there has been little time for systematic study and analysis.
Finally, the dispersion of the Internet into journalism has presented a challenge for journalism educators. Journalism, of course, is a quintessential information business. Computers networked together, in what is called the Internet, have emerged as the most powerful new information technology of this decade.
And where exactly does Bangladesh stand in this global village? Studies say that only a good 2 % have access to the internet in this country. Also, if you have the time to log on to www.TED.com, you’ll see the "One laptop per child." program, where Nicholas Negroponte envisages , or rather, Dares to dream about being able to supply one laptop to each child. Several countries such as Afghanistan, Uruguay and more have opted for this, but can Bangladesh even think of such a program? Granted that yes, we are shorthanded when it comes to fulfilling the basic needs of people, but can dreaming about the internet at every household (be it slum or palace) be an impossibility?
Leave Your Comments