1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY
1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY
1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY
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Online story construction 135<br />
Multimedia<br />
and programmes. Yet no popular medium can match the Internet<br />
for global reach, a fact that has implications for both the news<br />
agenda and newsgathering capabilities of <strong>online</strong> news providers.<br />
If a news site sets out to cover world events, it will soon find out<br />
via e-mails and d<strong>is</strong>cussion boards if it <strong>is</strong> not getting it right.<br />
Ignorance and narrow-mindedness in the newsroom are exposed<br />
to the spotlight of worldwide audiences who can tell you in an<br />
instant what they think. Mindful of their global audience, some<br />
news sites make sure world news <strong>is</strong> on the front page of their site<br />
each day. Th<strong>is</strong> simple act has forced many news organizations and<br />
the journal<strong>is</strong>ts within them to re-evaluate their news agendas.<br />
Global reach <strong>is</strong> the most automatic of the d<strong>is</strong>tinctive strengths<br />
of <strong>online</strong>. It does not have to be introduced or manufactured by<br />
the journal<strong>is</strong>t, as it <strong>is</strong> a fact of Internet life. However, its<br />
implications need to be understood. Global reach does not just<br />
mean the big picture. It also means millions of little pictures.<br />
Global = local.<br />
Th<strong>is</strong> ra<strong>is</strong>es an interesting question about the Web’s position as<br />
a mass medium. The Web <strong>is</strong> used by millions everyday. But it<br />
contains a multitude of different sites, each presenting a different<br />
product and experience for users. Each user can build their own<br />
relationships and networks between these sites. A bespoke rather<br />
than a mass product. And what happens when all users want the<br />
same products simultaneously (for example, v<strong>is</strong>iting their<br />
favourite news site during a major breaking story)? The system<br />
can’t cope and they are denied access. The Web has global reach<br />
and mass consumption, but not a mass product or the capacity for<br />
the collective reception of a single message that typifies mass<br />
media such as telev<strong>is</strong>ion.<br />
The multimedia picture <strong>is</strong> patchy at present. Among the major<br />
news providers, sites such as CNN and BBC News sit on a digital<br />
goldmine of content from their broadcast operations. They offer it<br />
effectively <strong>online</strong> and generate much traffic. For them and those<br />
like them, video in particular will grow in importance as the<br />
quality and speed of delivery improves. But for others, it remains
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