Is is time to embrace the change?

Is it time to embrace the change?

The war between broadcast, print and new age media – Tessa O’Neill reports.

The media industry thrives on perfection in the distribution. As technology advances, the distribution of breaking news is becoming easier with the use of new age media such as the internet. But, what does this mean for the future of print media such as magazines and newspapers and broadcast media such as television and radio?

We are living in a modern society that is naturally fuelled by the need to be able to access what we want, when we want it. In regards to news, the internet allows society to view and read all levels of news content from different sources, any time that we wish. This is most likely the reason that the internet is quickly growing to be the centre for mass media. 

In an investigation to truly elaborate on how different media networks handle one specific story, I looked in to the case of 58 year old Victorian sex offender that was recently arrested in Northern QLD. The story titled “Police in Hunt for Known Victorian Sex Offender Arrest Man in Queensland” was posted on the Courier Mail website on March 19 at 5:21pm. The story, now titled “Arrest after woman recognises man in Queensland cafe – Cops catch fugitive”, was then printed in today’s (20/01/12) Herald Sun on page two.

In a comparison between print and online, this example proves that the internet is a more reliable source for the most current breaking news. Information can be posted within minutes of the confirmation of an investigation, rather than waiting to be printed in tomorrow’s issue.

What if we were to focus on the comparison of internet vs broadcast media such as television and radio? Via television, society can be informed of current news events by what are commonly known as “news bulletins”. The different channels generally air their news bulletins around the time known as “prime time” which is generally in the evening around 5pm. These programs last for approximately half an hour to an hour, conveying international news, national news, regional news, local news, entertainment news, sports and weather.

 

Similar to television, radio broadcasts news programs at designated times but usually in shorter packages. Commonly, most radio stations will air news at the beginning of every hour and will usually run for approximately 3 – 8 minutes. Some, more news orientated, stations will air longer news programs of approximately half an hour in length, usually around prime time.

Focussing again on the case of the arrest of the Victorian sex offender, this story was aired in a 59 second clip on the ABC’s 7pm news program last night. When looking in to how different media networks handle one specific story, you begin to notice a pattern. The evident pattern in relation to this story shows that the internet was the first source to release the information, followed by the ABC’s news program that airs in a later prime time slot and then eventually in the Herald Sun delivered to your door step the next morning.

In conclusion, the change of times is evident, seeing news shoot across the globe within minutes via the use of the internet. Although print and broadcast media is still a reliable source, it is clear to see they are slowly becoming a thing of the past as we embrace the fact that the internet can deliver us any information we desire, merely at the click of a button.