Ms.Tuhina Choubey

Assistant Professor

Department of Journalism & Mass Communication

tuhina.choubey@kalingauniversity.ac.in

The fast advancement of digital technology and shifting consumer behavior have caused a significant revolution in the media industry in recent years. Both journalists and media organizations are facing previously unheard-of obstacles as well as intriguing opportunities as a result of this transition.

The major source of news consumption shifting to digital media is one of the biggest developments in journalism. Thanks to the development of smartphones and high-speed internet, viewers may now access a wide variety of news material from across the world instantly. Accessibility has made information more widely available to a wider audience, but it has also made false information more prevalent and undermined news organizations’ conventional funding streams.

Journalists in the current digital era must meet the needs of internet platforms while simultaneously producing accurate and excellent news. Clickbait pieces, SEO-friendly titles, and the need to provide content fast frequently take precedence over in-depth fact-checking and investigative journalism. The erosion of journalistic ethics and the blending of news and entertainment are hence issues that are causing increasing concern.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, journalists now have more opportunities to interact with readers and present news in creative ways thanks to the internet era. Social networking networks give journalists previously unheard-of chances to engage with readers directly, sift through potential stories, and expand their reporting. Podcasting has become a potent tool for long-form storytelling that enables journalists to explore intricate topics in-depth and connect with new listeners.

In addition, the number of voices participating in public debate has increased due to the growth of citizen journalism. With cellphones in hand, regular people can now record and disseminate news in real time, frequently offering insightful commentary and firsthand reports of events as they happen. Although citizen journalism comes with its own set of difficulties, such as accuracy and verification, it may improve news coverage and make the powerful answerable.

Journalism must change to satisfy the ever-evolving needs and expectations of viewers in this quickly changing context. Journalists may meet the difficulties of the digital era and still play a crucial role as truth-seekers and watchdogs of democracy by embracing digital innovation, maintaining journalistic standards, and encouraging meaningful reader involvement.