Converged Media: The future of journalism

The digital world has been pervasive especially in today’s generation. The output and input of information are all done easily through the use of digital devices and the internet. Consequently, communication is also more accessible and unchallenging because of the advent of technology all over the world. That being said, if journalists employ convergent media, the reach of the news and engagement with the targeted audience will be expanded and strengthened.

To simply explain the converged media, it is the merging of different types of mass media which includes the traditional media, the print media, the broadcast media, new media, and the internet. Smartphones are the most prevalent technology that people use today which is one of the examples of media convergence. When all of these elements are integrated, individuals will be able to obtain information more easily and with more perceived credibility.

The numerical data or Statistics have shown that there are almost 5 billion people who actively use the internet today. These active internet users consume around 62.6 percent of the world population, which is now approaching 8 billion people. The internet has now become the pillar of information of the modern world as most people rely on it. As per numerical data, researchers believed that the internet and new technology will continue to abound for the coming years. Most likely, it will revolutionize each generation that would create a history for the forthcoming generation. With all these being said, it is best to make the most of it, especially in disseminating news and gathering information. The continuous acquisition of the internet and digital devices actually offers a lot of opportunity when it comes to communication. It helps and allows in building global understanding which will strengthen the connection of every country. Through the use of these advanced technologies, substantial information is easily transmitted to one another.

The attention economy also plays a huge role as to why indulging and completely switching to media convergence is worthwhile and beneficial to journalism. The media always attempts to get the attention of viewers in order to benefit from the content they’re publicizing or broadcasting. Print journalism nowadays gets the least attention from people so it also gains the least. Going back to the numerical data, the numbers are quite high compared to the declining number of people who prefer reading the printed newspaper. These digital news are easily accessible for internet users, and can surely get viewer’s attention even in a small span of time. Somehow, having the news in an online platform allows more viewers to get hooked on the story as the news in online platforms are more comprehensive due to its short length compared to those that are in printed materials. Online platforms also provide different links to source out the information gathered in an article or links that are connected to it.

Additionally, there are these algorithms for each person that filters the contents being shown individually. It differs from person to person in accordance to their likings and followed events and news. Knowing this, certain topics, issues, or news, can easily reach its targeted audience.

Traditional media, printed, and broadcast media limits audience feedback and interactions. On the contrary, converged media allows the audience to the newsroom by having the freedom to leave comments and share these contents. Through advent technology, people are now unrestrained with their takes and their standpoints with societal issues which is an advantage for both the journalist and the audience because the cycle of communication goes on. Both parties share their knowledge about a certain issue, which helps them be more cultured.

As society gets more proactive regarding the matters that concern them and the world, the media should also progress to a much more accessible, undemanding, and reliable source of information that will cater the questions of the people. The ceaseless development of technology allows the media to do so. That all makes the converged media approach better to use considering how all the elements in society continue to grow.