Newspaper Media When buying a newspaper, technology is needed to produce it. We just pick the paper up and read. Newspapers have reporters who write, edit, and layout the story to fit the audience. Today’s newspaper staffs need computers, digital imaging, satellite technology and sometimes robots to produce a professional newspaper. Without these tools there would be no newspapers as we know them today.
Newspapers, periodicals, journals, books, booklets, pamphlets, newsletters are the different types of print media used daily. A newspaper is a package of news, comments, information and entertainment. The combination of the contents varies from paper to paper. Newspapers are designed to meet anyone who desires to read, wants and needs. There are many sections to attract interest. The prices of newspapers are reasonable, so anyone can afford to buy them.
The intended target audience of newspapers vary, however the main audience for newspapers are adults. It depends on the interest of the target audience what newspapers will publish. Newspapers are slowly fading away. “Some newspapers are creating home pages to mark their place in cyberspace until their managers determine how to make them commercially viable” (Morris & Christine, 2006). Other print media are thinking about moving to the Internet, fearing new technology competition.
Newspapers are looking into finding new technology sources to remain competitive. They are now using web sites, blogging and texting messaging to deliver information to their target audiences. Remaining competitive means newspapers have to incorporate technology into their strategy. Without making these changes, newspapers will become inactive and soon become the talk of the past.
Television Media
Technology in the television industry has made many changes over the years. Unlike radio, you can watch what is going on, and listen at the same time. The original television was black and white, big and bulky, with limited channels. However, today they have colored pictures with all kinds of neat gadgets. Now, they are slim and trim. Large flat screen televisions are in every household, the demand is great. Television attracts all types of viewers and age groups. Television technology gives us the convenience of sitting back, relaxing, and pressing the remote. The world has been altered by television. Some people are considered as couch potatoes, because they lay around and watch television all day. Too much television could have negative effects, if taken seriously by the viewer.
Parents should encourage their children to watch programs which are beneficial to them. “Time spent when children are watching television takes away from important activities, sometimes the information they learn may be inappropriate or incorrect” (Children and Watching TV, 2011). Television technology is not harmful to viewers, if they enjoy the effects of using it wisely.
Despite the boom of the internet, television is still good for obtaining information, and entertainment. People of all ages watch television. Most of the United States started watching television as children. Television can be entertainment, and teach children many things if not used as a substitute other activities. Television offers many channels, with news, sports, cartoons, movies and game shows. Most people could not imagine living without a television or two in their home.
Internet Media
“The Internet can be used as a tool for gathering news and information; trends regarding downloading of pod-casts; use of social networking sites by teenagers; and usage trends and patterns for broadband Internet access” (Technology and Media Use, 2013). When using the internet, you can connect anywhere in the world. With a few key strokes, you are off and running on your adventure. Using the internet is great; however, you can become reliant upon its convenience. Everyone has access to internet information, which makes this technology unique. It is your decision how far you want to travel, and how much information you want to gather. There is no limitation to the audience for using the internet. Men, women, old and the young have learned to retrieve information from the Internet.
It can be used for work, education, shopping, or for your own pleasure. “The Internet's information-retrieval and information-giving features are used in ways similar to mass media channels (newspapers, television, and books and magazines” (Flanagin, 2001). The internet has exploded with information over the years covering a mass audience. Information can be accessed at any time. The audience definitely has to be computer literate, or willing to learn. Today children are learning how to use computers in pre-school.
Today, there are profitable sources who are now creating home pages, and websites accessing their services, or for information concerning those services. The internet is taking over newspapers. People no longer have to go buy newspapers; they can bring the information up on the internet and read at their convenience. No more newspapers building up in the closet for recycle.
Social Media
The last media technology is the social media. “Social media such as Twitter, Facebook,, MySpace, You Tube, Flickr, and others have been growing at a tremendous rate, and the adoption rate of such media has skyrocketed” (Noor Al-Deen & Hendricks, 2012). You can log into Twitter and connect with your friends, family, news, celebrities and professionals.
Facebook is also used to connect to friends and family. Facebook has united with other companies to connect their services all over the world. Facebook is growing fast and has become number one in social media. With YouTube you can share videos instantly. Flickr lets you share videos and your favorite photos with others. Communication has been taken to a new level these days because of technology. Social media is positive most of the time, however there are times when there are negative effects.
Several negative effects caused by social media are: A false sense of connection making us unable to distinguish the difference between the media and real relationships. Cyber- bulling means we have to look out for predators wanting to hurt others. Sometimes, using the computer at work will cause distractions which will cause a decrease in productivity. Social media openness can cause lack of privacy.
You should always be careful concerning the personal information you are posting on a website. Social media has made it possible to communicate anywhere in the world. You can meet new people and develop relationships, without leaving home. Social media has a positive and negative affect on people, which sometimes causes distractions. Social media is changing the communication pattern fast.
Children and Watching TV. (2011). American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families.../Children_And_Wat_54.aspx.
Flanagin, A. a. (2001). Internet use in the contemporary media environment. Human Communication Research, 27:. Wiley Online Library, 153-181.
Morris, M., & Christine, O. (2006). The Internet as Mass Media. Wiley Online Library, DOI: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.1996.tb00174.x.
Noor Al-Deen, H. S., & Hendricks, J. A. (2012). Social Media Usage and Impact. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books.
Technology and Media Use. (2013). The Pew Charitable Trust, www.pewtrusts.org › ... › Technology and Media Use.
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