Digital media for bright future of journalism
While there is a general concern over the future of journalism amid aggressive rise of social media, a top official of the International News Media Association (INMA) says journalism's future is actually great provided that it braces the digital changes that shape audience habits.
"Our industry rules are changing with the change in technology, so, we too need to change. But, we need news media to be trusted more than ever," said Earl J Wilkinson, executive director and chief executive officer of INMA.
Headquartered in the United States, INMA is the world's leading provider of global best practices for news media companies looking to grow revenue, audience, and brand amid profound market change.
Wilkinson, who has written reports and books related to the future of media, marketing, and the strategic outlook for the news media industry, said digital age will allow anyone to be a publisher, which is a huge opportunity for growth of journalism.
"But, the news brand is important. Whatever the platform is, the audience will look for the brand [that is trusted]," he said at a seminar titled "Future of Journalism" organised by the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB).
Editors, senior journalists, communication and journalism teachers attended the programme at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital today.
Wilkinson said there is a fear that the print media will find their days diminishing soon with the growth of digital media, but that's not true.
Still now, print media represents 65 to 98 percent of revenue base in South Asia, and it is not going to dry down anytime soon because of peoples' emotional affinity with print.
However, digital platforms have to be incorporated simultaneously, he added.
The news contents that are printed can be reached to the audience via internet and smartphones in text, video and audio forms, so the audience avail the news instantly, Wilkinson added.
"Smart phones are going to be the game-changers," he said, adding that it has happened in the developed countries, and is fast happening in India and Bangladesh.
Wilkinson also said there is going to be online video revolution in the near future, which will be a collision against the traditional television programme.
For all these changes to be smartly braced, the news media companies have to focus on accuracy, new styles of storytelling and building capacity of people who can decide the best fits of contents in various platforms, he said.
He stressed that news companies need to know their audience better as they change their reading habits with the change of newer technologies.
Ekushey Television Chief Editor Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said content is the first pillar of journalism, while its presentation is second. "Audience need to know the truth. So, we have to be accurate whatever form we use," he said.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said news media now have much bigger opportunity to reach the audience with the emergence of digital media.
So, it is important to devote more resources for journalists so that they can produce better contents, he said.
"Future of journalism is good for those who change and bad for those who don't," Anam said.
Prothom Alo Consulting Editor Kamal Ahmed also spoke at the event.
Comments