Filling the Gap

History can tell the world on how media, particularly how people disseminate information, evolved- from ancient stone carvings, to books,  then publication of newspapers, the radio and television, and here came the world wide web or what they call the electronic media, which offers moving objects and visual materials. 

And again, with the advent of technology, information dissemination became faster in the online community. People, who have access to the internet, can post news or information directly on their blogs and social media accounts while journalists writing in a certain media outfit, still need to verify information, submit the article to the editor, and the process goes on, making readers to wait for hours and even days (in the case of newspaper outfits that publish weekly). 

[This Youtube video is David Carr's story- telling on how he thinks Journalism essentially changed over time. 

To further the argument, it really is always real time vs. batch processing. By batch processing in print journalism, meaning, the way how an article is chosen to be published. That it involves many process, from the writer to the editor, and so forth. 

But it's not really about the competition of Online and Print Journalism. It is how they work together in filling the gaps that the other one cannot provide. 

One difference is the immediacy of the information, and the time. Because articles can be published online in just a click, but offline publishing takes more time. Also are the audience, because online publications can reach people anywhere, anytime, may they be in different time zones as long as they have internet connection while newspaper outfits cannot. 

Print is good at the things the Web is not good at - watchdog, explanatory, enterprise, narrative storytelling. The two media complement one another. One is the flowing river, changing constantly; the other is the rock on the shore, fixed and solid.- Charlotte Hall, Editor, Orlando Sentinel

I AGREE. Because the print media can always perform its duties as watchdog of the society, that it provides verified information to the readers, it continues to educate the public about matters concerning the society and the nation at large, and is safeguarding the interest of journalists and journalism. While we cannot assure that the online community can provide all, if not some, of the mentioned established duty of the print media, it still helps in providing real- time and relevant information that people, not only in a certain area, but in the world, need to know. Because newspaper outfits also have their online counterparts now.

Online journalism makes it possible for concerned citizens to address unexpected happenings instantly, like that of earthquakes, fire, accidents, other dangers and live events- for online users. But then again, there are still places in this country that still don't have the fastest access to information but their radio and TV, and they are still willing to read the daily newspapers because it provides the relevant details of the news. 

The multimediality of the online medium paved way to readers' interactivity, and instant feedback. In just a click of the link, people online can now voice out their opinions and comments on certain issues while people reading the news can, likely, talk to themselves alone or whoever they are with during the time they read about the news. 

However, the two media differs in censorship. 

In online media, the people have the power to choose what to include on their stories while journalists have the guiding principle, the ethics and standard to choose only the important facts and figures on their news stories. But today, journalists can also testify that these real-time information from online users are big help for them to look for a better angle of their news stories. That they can make an article out of the news from ordinary individuals online. 

Who says print media is dead? No, because the online media, as its counterpart, makes it possible for this century-old source of information be more relevant and equally important as other forms of media in the world. 

To end this post, this video can provide a clearer insights about these two media. Theories and concepts are also provided here.: