Death of Newspapers/Radio/TV - Class debate

Are we going to see the death of newspapers/radio/television due to ICT?

Not really. But they will have to change/evolve. The situation is dire especially for print journalism. I believe that in near future we will be getting all our NEWS from the Internet or television. But than, as we know from communication theories, the newspapers do not exist only to give news to people. I strongly believe in Uses and Gratification Theory ( http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/mass/uses.htm) and think that if newspapers can evolve according to the changing needs of their users they can still be relevant. Combine it with the Media Dependency Theory ( http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/mass/dependency.htm) and you will understand what I am thinking of. I believe we use a particular newspaper not only because it can break stories more regularly than its competitors but because the way it presents news. When it comes to newspapers, we all have our favourites, largely, I suppose due to the perspective that the newspaper gives to the news items. It is the character of the respective newspapers, the way they present news ~ with a shade of particular ideology ~ that will help them survive the new media onslaught. Of-course to fend off the challenge they will have to supplement their main product with some ICT channels like websites, but if they can work to build a loyal user base on the ideological lines, they will survive. Now I must stress that by this argument I do not mean to say that newspapers have to be dividing factors in a society or rabble-rousers with biased reportage. Objectivity still has to be the guiding factor but your readers should be able to associate themselves with the newspaper's general ideas and should feel gratified with the association. (Javed Anwer)
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The Idea of ICT journalism replacing print media or traditional electronic media like radio and television is far fetched and to belongs to a distant future, but even in the developed countries despite the existance of the ICT infrastructure these traditional media channels like the newspapers, radio and television still exist and are still influencial as ever.( Paul Kihika)

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Young people should not be blamed entirely for the slow decline in circulation of newspapers. We should also consider that the age bracket you have mentioned is more concerned with entertainment. The 43 minutes they spend reading is probably spent on finding best spots for meeting people or checking out which cinema to go to.
NB: At least in Kenyan context.(Liz Apondi)
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Yes, I am agreeing with miss Apondi for the contribution, young group should not be blamed since this group likes more entertainment than other news stories, from there I can say that people likes watching and listening. when you take a newspaper its just the eyes which are used, when you consider television people see and listen. This entertain them more.

In our countries which are developing its difficult for decline of circulation of newspapers since majority of village dwellers dont have television for watching they depend on the newspapers and sometimes radios for those who can afford buying it.

I can give an example in my country Tanzania in the village they have an access of newspapers though they reach there late due to communication problems like bad roads. But accessing broadcasting media like radios and television is difficulty since there is no electricity in many of the villages. they can access radios only if they have money to buy batteries.

The example our colleague gave us is of a developed country USA. For them I think they can manage making the newspapers circulation decline but for ours it may not be easy( Caren Kahangwa)
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Given the way in which the world is split between those who have and those who dont,especially in the southern hemisphere, I can't forsee the death of newspapers, radio or television due to ICTs. In this part of the world, Radio leads as the main way to reach communities of people literally living in a SEA OF ISLANDS. If anything, and taking the question literally, my response would be that ICTs can enhance the LIVES of newspapers, radio and television depending on what strategies publishing and news organisations take -- and I think the readings pose a wide range of strategic planning actions and ways to manage change.(Lisa Williams-Lahari )

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Are we going to see the death of the newspaper/magazine/radio/television due to ICT?
No, ICT can not bring about the death of the print and electronic media. Actually, ICT complements the print and electronic media in disseminating accurate and prompt information. ICT makes it possible for print and electronic media outlets to be able to have large audience coverage. By this I mean they are able to use the internet to disseminate reports, news and images to a larger audience. Digital technology has made it possible for print and electronic media houses to put their contents on the internet which can be read, heard and seen by those interested in the information.(Harrison Alechenu Akoh )

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What we are going to experience is a shift in newspapers, radio and television business models. Newspapers are already availing their content online and this offers newspaper companies an opportunity to cross-promote their online content with hard copy content (e.g you click on an online news story and the “read more” link directs you to the hard copy version for a full story). It will also be cost-effective for news makers to update changes, online when such changes are necessary (i.e ICT will make it possible to correct and update facts online ).
Radio stations are already broadcasting over Internet through streaming audio.This means that the use of ICT will enable broadcasters to reach wider audiences. It also means that listeners will have an opportunity to choose the broadcasting content which appeals to them(i.e freedom of information consumption)
Television also broadcasts over the Internet , offering the audiences the a complete communication solution, package(converged communication solution)(Humbulani Rambau)

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I do not think think that we are going to see the
death of newspapers, radio and television. Rather I
see a situation where these media will be enhanced by
ICT. The positive thing that ICt has brought to
journalism is that now jouirnalists will have to more
careful with the information the disseminbate bearing
in mind that there many others out the (self
-journalists) who are providing information to the
"world" at large. Journalists can no longer take their
readers/audience for granted.

The most important tool is the internet. We uise it to
collect information, for research and keeping in
contact with our various sources. The telephone too is
very important. We can record telephone interviews.
The cellphone is handy as we use it to record certain
events especially if one does not have a still or
video camera when they come across breaking news.

We can generate more stories from other news source
including other media organisation through the
internet. Appoints do not necessary have to be done
through one meduim. Most organisation have internet,
therefore if the phone is not working, we can get in
touch them through the internet or cell phone.(mildred chama)

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NO. Actually we are going to see an improvement in the delivery of information because of the ICTs. A classic example is where I work – Chikuni Radio. From the time we were equipped with internet facilities we have been very able to produce well researched programmes and news items. We have been able to access government documents online which would otherwise have taken very long to access the hard copies. In countries like Zambia, accessing official documents is very hard thing especially when you are in a rural area. Newspapers are not forthcoming to the rural areas. With online editions of newspapers we are able to have the news and stories from other parts of the country. There are a number of people that cannot afford missing out the hard copy of newspapers. This is because you can read back and through wherever you want, and it is highly portable to the developing world. The ICTs have created a mutual dissemination of information.(Matongo Maumbi)

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No , I think its not true that ICT is going to do that. Moreover I do Believe
that It is going to make the Journalism Too easy to do. As it is much time
consuming to write keyboard than a pen. No Only that ICT helps the
Television/ Radio to broadcast News the news too early to happened by the
Modern Cameras and other technical factor . About The News Paper ICT help
the national Newspapers to become International through The Internet.(Naznin Kabir)

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Guys,

Agree or Disagree?

I would like to make a comment on the issue of whether
we are going to see the death of newspapers/ radio/
television due to ICT.

In my opinion I feel that the opposite would happen
instead. This means that the growth of ICT would see
the birth of many newspapers/ radio and television
with improved quality.

For example newspapers would publish high quality copy
due to sophisticated Cameras, Software and Printing
Machines. Who knows, in future due to improvement in
ICT we would witness newspapers printed using
hand-held devices unlike now when we are only using
stationary and very big printing machines.

In Radio, it is evident that ICT is performing wonders
in the growth radio industry. In the past it was hard
and expensive to run a radio station on shortwave and
medium wave frequencies. But now the introduction of
FM frequencies has witnessed the birth of many radio
stations. For your own information, currently the
world radio industry is positively responding to a
call to switch from analog transmission (FM
transmission) to digital transmission by the year
2015. This development has been facilitated by the new
radio technology on the market.

There have also been a growing number of internet
radios which are run using ICT products. Malawi has
one, Radio Yako, which operates from Florida in USA
and can be accessed at www.radioyako.com .At local
level; Capital Radio which broadcast from the
commercial capital Blantyre airs its morning show
programme Day Break Malawi at
www.capitalradiomalawi.com

On television, Malawi Television (TVM) is in the
process of broadcasting on satellite – a shift from
the previous terrestrial transmission – all because of
ICT.

With above arguments I strongly feel that ICT would
instead contribute to the birth and operation of
Newspapers/ Radio /Television and NOT the demise of
any.

Do you agree or disagree with my opinion? You have the
floor…..(Lameck masina)

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To add to what lameck wrote, don't think the internet or news online can replace newspapers, Televison or radio.
People have listened to radio for many years in our part of the world. For nstance in Ghana, the prolifearation of FM stations has made radio a household tool. Broadcasting in local languages have made radio very popular as market women listen to news and discuss issues as if they were politicians. Newspaper stories are read and interpreted on radio every morning and people are able to call in and make contributions. Also in Ghana where the bulk of people are illiterates or semi literate and live in rural areas, I don't think they are going to carry laptops to their farms even in the next 50 years and read their news online.

Even in the advanced countries people get tired of being behind the the computer screen for a long time and prefer reading newspapers for a change.
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Also reading news tit bits via mobile phone does not provide all the details. Therefore people will still want to have the details in features in newspapers while relaxing etc.
Therefore what I want to say is that while among the elite some people will be stuck to their screens surfing the net. newspapers, radios and televison will continue to serve poor countries for many years to come and will still be relevant even in the advanced countries.
To me what will happen is taht each media will have its own clientele based on the kind of comfort and satisfaction a person gets from it be it inteh office, home, market, farm etc.
Therefore ICT cannot kill the newspapers, radio or televison, just tough comeptition(Isabella Gyau Orhin)

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Newspapers would not die just because of ICT. ICTs are there to enhance newspapers production and sales depending on the approach of the newshouse. I know of a few newspapers in the Scandinavian countries (which top the list of the best Internet connection and usage http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Information%20Technology%20Report/index.htm) and they have taken advantage of Internet. These countries like Sweden, Finland, etc, still lead the world in newspaper sales partly not only because people subscribe but also the papers have web versions which also carry adverts in a webfriendly manner. One of the newspapers in Sweden even runs webtv for the younger generation that does not want the hard copy. The webtv has commercials and it is interesting to see how a newspaper is using this opportunity to run stories in webtv format. It is all an issue of business plan for the paper. If ICTs are seen to be useful to a newsroom, then there should be a way of selling the idea to the very customers who benefit from it.( Victor Kaonga)
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No, because the ICT is not going in this way but the give high technologies for the better in the future for the Journalism around the world's and share information with them and how to owning the skill to dealing with globalization. I think ICT to convert the local to become regionally and it become internationally. It becomes that as followed:

1- Participate of the database.

2- Web site (blogs). ( Eltahra Magzoub)

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I agree with Paul that ICT cannot kill newspapers. If
anything it will simply be complimentary. If Dennis'
example of Tanzania is anything to go by, then it will
take plenty of years for ICT to kill papers especially
in Africa.

Many countries in Africa are not well versed with ICT.
Many are in the process of acquiring ICT skills. Can
you imagine that a lot of senior government officers
in Malawi do not have email addresses? They cannot
access internet. What does that mean? If officials
have no idea about ICT what can they offer to their
country?( deogratias mmana)

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