How News Industry Evolved with the Advent of New Media Technologies

Introduction

The news industry is a mass media form whose aim is to deliver news to a targeted group or the public. Different forms of mass media include broadcast news, print media, and the internet. Print media includes news magazines and newspapers. Broadcast news is not limited to television and radio, while on the other hand, the internet comprises online newspapers, live news streaming, and news blogs (Wenzel & Nelson, 2020). (Wenzel & Nelson, 2020). The news industry can have various range of functions. For instance, it can function as a plant or firm producing news. Nevertheless, it can serve as a plant or firm for entertainment content. The news industry incorporates its various forms to air news at the best time and reliability. The existence of one form of the news industry has been of great help to the other. They work together to produce news at the best convenient means.

The news industry is among the most critical sectors in the world. It has shown to be of great importance to people in every country. One significance of the news industry is that it functions as a source of information both for people and society since it shares things going on in the community through different connections, whether newspapers, television, or radio. Another importance is that it helps change people’s habits and attitudes (Park et al., 2020). (Park et al., 2020). The news industry attains this by creating awareness concerning issues that might be confusing or issues that people have varying perceptions towards. Setting the nation’s agenda is another importance of the news industry. The news industry plays a critical role in drawing attention and calling people to focus on public issues in society. The news industry is vital because it acts as a mediator amongst the public and the rest of the world by using reliable news industry sources.

Background

News Industry is among the rapidly evolving industries in the world. However, the rate of evolution has been greatly increased with the arrival of new media technologies. Some of the media technologies that have contributed to rapid news industry evolvement include social media networks, websites, email, blogs, virtual and augmented reality, and television and music streaming services (Zayani, 2021). (Zayani, 2021). These new media technologies have been invented to function as transferring information using digital techniques, data networks, and computerized systems. The news industry has evolved with the advent of new media technologies because it has shown to rely on computers to redistribute information. The news industry has developed computer games, animations, human-computer interfaces, and virtual worlds through new media technologies, which function as the critical elements of distributing information (Hughes & Waismel-Manor, 2021). (Hughes & Waismel-Manor, 2021).

Digital platforms and social media have shaped journalism and the news industry tremendously. Social media and digital platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have shaped the news industry. The speed at which information is distributed is relatively high compared to before the invention of the aforementioned social media and digital platforms (Swart, 2021). (Swart, 2021). Also, it has been shaped in that divisions are introduced for redistribution of the information to ensure that it reaches different targeted groups or audiences within the shortest time possible, depending on the type of news redistribution available. Nevertheless, both journalism and the news industry has been shaped by social media and digital platforms since it has enabled journalists to have conversations with their targeted groups and audience regardless of distance provided there is the availability of the social media and digital platforms. Another way the mentioned forms of information have shaped journalism and the news industry is by enhancing interaction between journalists and audiences, even though the interaction mostly happens virtually.

Significance of the Topic

People tend to overlook the few adverse effects of something and forget to look at its vast positive impacts. In connection to this topic, I address the importance of the evolvement of the news industry with the advent of new media technologies. Also, I address the significance of how social media and digital platforms have shaped up journalism and the news industry with special reference to Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Twitter. Nevertheless, I will look at the significance of how the platforms, as mentioned earlier, have influenced the process involved in the news industry (Choi et al., 2021). (Choi et al., 2021).

The evolvement of the news industry is a critical aspect of today’s world. It has played an essential role in our lives. Human beings have been easily familiarized with the ongoing things in society and the world. As a result of this evolution, new media technologies have turned the world small since information can be effectively redistributed with minimal inconveniences. Additionally, new media technologies have supplemented the news industry by opening courses in mass communication and communication history (Scheffauer et al., 2021). (Scheffauer et al., 2021). It has premiered a big picture of understanding what communication media is as well as its importance. Besides, news industry evolvement in regard to social media and digital platforms is significant. It permits readers and citizens the chance to engage in strung discussion that relates to the public, which is beneficial to them.

Regarding Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, social media and digital platforms play a significant role in shaping journalism and the news industry. For instance, Twitter and Facebook have enabled the distribution of information within seconds. It has been supplemented by smartphones’ availability, which is categorized as supercomputers characterized by the high capability of sending information in words, videos, or writing. Furthermore, social media and digital platforms play an essential aspect in the news industry by enabling the news process. Digital platforms such as Instagram and Twitter make work easier for the news industry to gather information within the least time possible, followed by fast and easy editing of gathered raw news (Westlund et al., 2021). (Westlund et al., 2021). Finally, if disseminated, the processed message reaches the targeted audience through various social media and digital platforms, hence making the distribution and redistribution of information easier. Notable/Valuable Scholarly findings

There are various valuable scholarly findings done on this topic. For example, Jääskeläinen & Yanatma (2019) have found national news agencies’ future in Europe. He examines a business innovation model related to media technology and owned by national news in his study. They find that media technologies play an essential role in shaping the news industry. The authors assert that media technology has positively changed news agencies in Europe by coming up with various social media and digital platforms that help respond to the vast growing competition and media technological changes.

 

Nelson (2021) researches ”audience engagement” in journalism in the following media regime. Despite the challenges of losses made in terms of revenue and relevance by the news industry, there is a hope that there will be salvation in increasing the audience’s engagement in the news industry. Through this, there is hope that the journalism industry will be successful, and there will be the attainment of anticipated millstones. In his research, Nelson finds that the only way to increase audience engagement in the news industry is through social media as well as digital platforms. He argues that using the platform as mentioned earlier will be a better approach to new industry transition since many people have become familiar with these platforms. It is easy to have smartphones and other computerized devices.

The news industry has undergone changes in respect to internet and media technologies. Munger (2020) finds that social media and the internet have become integral to current life in his research. Scholars have found that the growth of the news industry is triggered by conforming to social media as well as digital platforms. The study shows that social media functions as a reputation builder of the news industry. Nonetheless, it serves as a distribution platform, and as a result, there are huge investments that have been made in journalism. It has been attributed to various social media and digital platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram, which have become popular since many people have access to smartphones and other internet-enabled electronic devices.

Work of Notable Researchers

De Corniere & Sarvary (2021) conducted research on Social Media and News: content Bundling and news Quality. Their study finds that the vast growing internet platforms influence which functions as aggregators is a severe challenge posed on the news industry. The study involves the development of models that aid in understanding third-party bundling content effects caused by social media and digital platforms. The study emphasizes the impact of social media on the news industry. According to the authors, social media has led to a better quality of news. News industries have been supplemented with social media and digital platforms with enough information. Nevertheless, social media and digital platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have aided in editing news in the news industry and redistribution of quality information. Consumers have shown high content and power to social media and news. They have demonstrated this by having the ability to personalize their media platforms where they can get information any time and by all means provided they have access to digital platforms like Instagram.

 

Wang (2020) researches Differentiation and De-differentiation: The Evolving Power Dynamics Between News Industry and Tech Industry. In his study, he deploys a theoretical framework that helps him understand the sprouting dynamics between the technology industry and the news industry. Wang finds that the changes result from various changes in media technology. The news industry is developed just like the technology industry because they all supplement and depend on each other. For example, for the news industry to do better, it needs the technology industry to equip it with media and digital platforms to gather and redistribute information. On the other hand, for the technology industry to do well, it relies on the news industry in many ways. For example, it depends on the news industry to help it market the new inventions in the technology industry and familiarize it with people.

New Avenues/Research Gaps

In my research, I have come across various research gaps, such as quantified audiences in news production. Zamith (2018) performs synthesis and a research agenda regarding the research as mentioned earlier agenda. According to Zamith, some technological, social, and economic shifts have been witnessed in the previous two decades, which resulted in audience metrics and analytics in journalism. However, journalism metrics and analytics in news production are synthesized across behaviors, attitudes, discourse, content, and ethics. The study shows that even though journalism is not contemporary driven by enumerated audiences, the quantification and audience play a more critical role in the production of news than ever witnessed in the past. Additionally, the study results are a clear indication that practitioners and scholars have become less pessimistic concerning metrics and analytics for the last few decades. Also, scholars and practitioners are not concerned and determined towards spotting more nuanced impacts as well as prosocial possibilities. Moreover, there is an identification of more critical gaps in the literature of this research. In response to this, Zamith urges scholars and practitioners to conduct more research concerning the issue and develop research directions that will aid in addressing the mentioned research gaps.

Another research gap that I have come across in my research is the news gap. Boczkowski & Mitchelstein (2013) performs research on the news gap. The study’s findings show that the news gap occurs when the information preferences of the media and the public diverge. The research embarks on different individuals to express its intended meaning better. There was the conduction of seminars, and various comments were provided. The comments turned out to be of great help than anticipated. Taking into consideration stories posted on twenty news sites, an analysis is made that there is an existence of news gap in preferences regardless of the national media culture or ideological orientation. However, the news gap is not affected by innovations that result from blogs and content generated by the user on the mainstream of the news sites. The authors make a conclusion of their study from the findings and assert that the troubleshooting consequences of the news gaps have a strong connection with technology, communication, and politics in the digital age. To counter this, the news industry should advocate and uphold the use of media technology and digital platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Alternatively, politics regarding the digital age’s restricted use of digital platforms should be dealt with because the negative impacts of digital platforms outweigh the advantages.

Filling of Identified Knowledge Gaps

The above-identified knowledge gaps in the news industry can be filled in many ways, as shown below.

Avoiding media limitations

The demands of media are an indication that good information does not make it to the public. The reasons behind this factor are that good information might be barred from unnoticed factors such as space and time constraints. Also, information might not make it to the public if some media of distributing information such as television convey the most important information within a short selected time while having more time on the less critical information. To fill this gap, more time in news devices like television should be assigned to the information that can be visualized since it attracts the attention of the viewers.

Cultural and ideological differences

Biasness, either ideological or cultural, negatively affect reporting, editing, and presentation of events. Even though every journalist strives to be ”objective”, it is unfortunate that their efforts in many incidences go in vain. The reality is that their efforts are barred by cultural and ideological differences (Pennycook & Rand, 2019). (Pennycook & Rand, 2019). For example, reporting an event might be misinterpreted depending on cultural or ideological differences. The fill can be filled by determining the cultural aspects of every targeted audience before presenting any report, and with this, there will be fewer misinterpretations, and journalists will feel appreciated.

Limiting information access by media officers

Information is not much far from knowledge. Therefore, information can be said to be power. There is an existence of a gap in which the media have manipulated information. Often, this occurs in incidences where the media want to cover itself from certain information that might ruin its reputation. Many people suffer because some access some information facts and temper with it for their purpose. Unfortunately, little or no action has been taken towards this. However, the gap can be filled by limiting the number of media or government officers who have access to the information before and after the presentation.

Making good news headlines

Every news media has its headlines depending on the way it conveys news. For instance, televisions and other visualized digital platforms make headlines either by highlighting the healing with a different color, presenting the headlines in blocks, or presenting the headline in different writing styles. The same case happens to newspapers. For other media like radios, headlines are presented using a different and unique voice. (Park et al., 2020). All these methods of presenting headlines are recommendable. Awkwardly, some headlines are presented by the use of an uncouth message that might ruin the reputation of the captives of the news. Mostly, this is done to attract the attention of viewers, readers, or listeners. The gap can be filled by using the actual message of the news and not targeting how to attract the intended audience’s attention while compromising with the dignity and reputation of the people involved in the news.

Having access to wide media diversity

Limited access to media has been a disadvantage to many people. Local and common media take advantage of them being a monopoly and exploit others by giving false information. This gap can be filled by familiarizing people with a wide variety of media and imposing restrictions on opening media services.

References

Boczkowski, P. J., & Mitchelstein, E. (2013). The news gap: When the information preferences of the media and the public diverge. MIT press

Choi, J., Lee, S. Y., & Ji, S. W. (2021). Engagement in emotional news on social media: intensity and type of emotions. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 98(4), 1017-1040.

de Corniere, A., & Sarvary, M. (2021). Social Media and News: Content Bundling and news Quality.

Hughes, H. C., & Waismel-Manor, I. (2021). The Macedonian fake news industry and the 2016 US election. PS: Political Science & Politics, 54(1), 19-23.

Jääskeläinen, A., & Yanatma, S. (2019). The future of national news agencies in Europe-Case study 4: Business model innovation in media-owned federal news agencies.

Munger, K. (2020). All the news that’s fit to click: The economics of clickbait media. Political Communication, 37(3), 376-397.

Nelson, J. L. (2021). The following media regime: The pursuit of ‘audience engagement ‘in journalism. Journalism, 22(9), 2350-2367.

Park, K., Kwak, H., An, J., & Chawla, S. (2020). How-to Present News on Social Media: A Causal Analysis of Editing News Headlines for Boosting User Engagement. arXiv preprint arXiv:2009.08100.

Park, S., Fisher, C., Flew, T., & Dulleck, U. (2020). Global mistrust in the news: The impact of social media on trust. International Journal on Media Management, 22(2), 83-96.

Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2019). Lazy, not biassed: Susceptibility to fake partisan news is better explained by lack of reasoning than motivated reasoning. Cognition, 188, 39-50.

Scheffauer, R., Goyanes, M., & de Zúniga, H. G. (2021). Beyond social media news use, algorithms, political discussion, and network heterogeneity clarify incidental news exposure. Online Information Review.

Swart, J. (2021). Tactics of news literacy: How young people access, evaluate, and engage with news on social media. New media & society, 14614448211011447.

Wang, Q. (2020). Differentiation and de-differentiation: The evolving power dynamics between the news and tech industries. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 97(2), 509-527.

Wenzel, A., & Nelson, J. L. (2020). Introduction “engaged” journalism: Studying the news industry’s changing relationship with the public. Journalism Practice, 14(5), 515-517.

Westlund, O., Krumsvik, A. H., & Lewis, S. C. (2021). Competition, change, and coordination and collaboration: tracing news executives’ perceptions about participation in media innovation. Journalism Studies, 22(1), 1-21.

Zamith, R. (2018). Quantified audiences in news production: A synthesis and research agenda. Digital Journalism, 6(4), 418-435.

Zayani, M. (2021). Digital journalism, social media platforms, and audience engagement: The case of AJ+. Digital journalism, 9(1), 24-41.