Digital content, heed of the times

I have always been a digital baby even if social networking sites have not yet emerged when I was born. It makes sense to say that my father was updated in the latest trend with technology.

My personal computer at 10 years old

          Growing up, I came to know the internet so well. I had amateur blogs and social networking profiles put up on the web without parental guidance. Content wasn’t my issue, I only wanted to be in the trend.

            The forum last September 21, 2011 at Cebu Normal University was an eye-opener for teens and campus journalists who went through the same story as mine. Ervin Oliva, Yahoo! Country editor for the Philippines clarified casual blogging from being a citizen journalist online. He said that Citizen Journalism online is a form of social responsibility by informing the public but it is easier, faster and reactions can come in at anytime. He even emphasized it as being real time and accessible defeating traditional media such as print, TV or radio.

            As a student taking up Mass Communication, it seems to me that the media industry is in turmoil trying to keep up with the digital age and its competition. New websites being put up here and mobile services introduced there. However, can online journalism be a substitute for traditional journalism? This question has been going on since I could remember. For me though, it can never be such. The threshold of online media does not reach all areas in the country. Not everybody is literate enough to know how to use a computer. Mobile devices are almost in everybody’s hands but content is sacrificed to a mere 160 character news bite with space. But, we cannot just simply eradicate online journalism. It is a form of convenience for those who can access the web and for those who are always on the go. One of its great advantages is the feedback that is received real time. Yet, as I have pointed out, it is a form of responsibility. I’d have to agree with Mr. Oliva that we all need to be careful with what we post online. It may be just easy for us to start a conversation with someone but with the internet, privacy is close to nothing. It is too public to start with, controversies may spark at anytime.

            It is even so amazing how Mr. Bong Secuya, was able to turn a fan site into a hit website. He explained what he did and how he started. To me, his talk made me realize that nothing is impossible yet there are always risks involved. He narrated his story of being in jail for saying something against Pacman’s manager. Again, it all boils down to responsibility.

            Online Journalism the big thing in the industry yet it cannot replace traditional forms of media. It also carries with it the issue of being a responsible journalist/citizen journalist considering that it is very public and audience feedback can be made in an instant. A story’s content is the meat that sells, online journalism can get the content to places but what it has used to be of will still remain.