This paper contains a report on a new form of media and communication. The report includes requirements of knowledge one needs to have in the new form of media and communication. This paper discusses skill development and training requirements one needs to have in this new form of media and communication; expectations of individuals and changes that happened in the individuals with this sort of media and communication.
Introduction
The new form of media and communication has brought a significant revolution in every aspect. It has made a great impact on traditional media. The new form of media includes blogs, social networking sites, mobile messaging, and other technological applications. This has got the capability to provide instant messaging at any time. To gain skill in this field, one has to acquire more advanced technical knowledge. Technical knowledge means understanding all kinds of new technology that are related to or used in a new form of media and communication. The major criticism involved in the new form of media and communication is how everyone can become used to this. In a journal article named “The Medium Has a New Message: Media and Critical Geography” written by Jim Craine, the author mentions that “media and its technologies and practices have become so ubiquitous.” (Craine 2007, p.148).
Many authors who conducted research made some critical analysis that this new form of media allows one to see more than what one thinks.
What are the knowledge requirements in the new form of media and communication?
The requirement of technical knowledge is a must to understand a new form of media and communication. “Mobile phones and the wireless internet are perhaps the most frequently used and widely spread of the new global media technologies; on an obvious level, each offers users new forms of connection.” (Devine n.d.). So, the knowledge requirements on these are very important. One should be able to fill the gap between the traditional and new forms of media and communication. By acquiring scientific knowledge, one can fill this gap very easily. Professionals working as journalists need to be trained to get used to these new forms of media and communication. In the traditional method what happens is one can study the things from the seniors, mostly on the job itself. But, today things have changed; without knowledge one will be nowhere.
What are the skills developments to move from traditional media to the new form of media?
To move from traditional media to the new form of media, one should have lots and lots of skills. The most important thing is one should have the courage to face any challenge that is coming in his way. “The ability to handle pressure, deliver on time, deal with a variety of people, sometimes work in a group, and innovate are requirements of a media professional.” (Desai 2009). Apart from this, one should attain skills in new forms of communication technologies and media content. This includes knowledge about digital technologies, web technology, multimedia formats, and basic web content production.
What are the training requirements?
In these modern days, the traditional media realize the importance of modern technology i.e. the importance of blogs, social networking, cell phone messaging, and new technical application. Now the world recognizes the necessity of this new application. In a recent survey among the people of the US, the majority of the respondents agreed with the fact that technology has a great impact on the efficiency of the media. So, the media cannot keep a distance from these facts.
There are many programs for the training of journalism. But the training should be effective and should have such standards that it must be the key component of the media development program. Generally, university journalism departments and specialized institutions have training programs for journalism. The cadres of the new professional journalist are the contribution of such an institution. “Professional skills taught include program production skills, news and feature journalism, editing, specialized areas such as investigative journalism, and other elements of the trade.” (Kalathil 2008, p.5).
What are the skills GAPs still need to be identified?
According to a recent survey conducted among the media field, a significant effort is needed to fill the skills gaps in the field of information technology of the media. It is not a small effort, but the technology should be familiar to the people or viewers of the news from that media. The media should be one step forward by estimating the future requirement. By the high performance and training in computer and modern technology, the skills gaps can be filled. The digital environment changes the structure of the media. The latest survey report among the journalists found that there should be academic practice collaboration in this field to fill the skills gaps between the media and technology.
What are the individual expectations?
With the training program, we can expect good output from the new generations of journalists. So, we can be ambitious and enthusiastic about these new things. The donors and practitioners should have thorough knowledge about the technology, i.e. use of internet access, cell phone usage, computer literacy, etc. If people do not know about the technology, they will not believe the news from the new media like mobile. In the book “Promoting Technology Adoption – and Prosperity – Through Public-Private Partnerships”, the author Bill Gates writes about the role of both public and private entities in providing universal access to technology to the worldwide population.” (Gates 2008).
Through this book, Bill Gates conveys the necessity of information technology in the field of media and other businesses.
Has the type of individual in the organization changed?
The ambition of the people can change the total outcome of technical implementation in the case of the media. Each person in society should think about how to change according to the change taking place in technology. Otherwise, the organization cannot change as per the requirements of new technology. If a person does not know the use of mobile, he will not believe the news from such a source. There was no use of mobile, PC or network, etc in the traditional media. Therefore, the employees in the traditional media did not know how to use the technology applications. Now the type of individual in the organization has changed; they now know the necessity of technical applications and how to use them.
Conclusion
The role of modern technology in the field of media development can be easily understood by taking the current overview of the field. This also encompasses the role of awareness of the people about information technology. Training programs conducted should be such that they contribute to good journalists. The new form of media can change the face of traditional media.
References
Craine, J 2007, The medium has a new message: media and critical geography, ACME Editorial Collective. Web.
Desai, MK 2009, The making of media professionals: format training, Infochange Media: News and Analysis on Social Justice and Development Issues in India. Web.
Devine, J n.d., Global media and communication: new time, new space, new social relationships, The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge & Society, vol.4, no.4, p.71-78. Web.
Gates B 2008, Promoting technology adoption- and prosperity- through public- private partnership, Wall Street Journal Asia. Web.
Horton, JL 2005, The future of media relations: how we work. Web.
Kalathil, S 2008, Scaling a changing curve: traditional media development and the new media: a report to the center for international media assistance: supporting journalism and professional skill training, CIMA: Center for International Media Assistance: NED: National Endowment for Democracy. Web.