Paul Eivanhoe Alejandro S14

Paulo Nicole Dones

Convergence Journalism

It was during amid the 1990s that people tried to explore the internet and the

technologies behind it. The World Wide Web seized the hearts of America‟s vision and

anxiety (Boczkowski, 2005). As the Internet spreads rapidly around the globe, most

maneuver of creating different news article are proceeding via Internet; gathering

information and evidence, interviewing, editing, publishing, and even exchanging public

issue. In other words, our world is leaning towards the Online-Journalism era. In just a

period of one decade, online journalism became the central to peoples‟ lives and as a

result, some have abandoned the print news. It was immediately recognized by

Americans who began to retrieve the news online, enhancing the concept of the first

nonprint newspaper (Boczkowski, 2005).

According to Foust (2005) “The internet has been called the greatest advance for

communication since the invention of the printing press.” (p.1). The capability of the

Internet depends on its adjacency, the authority to give utterance to those who have no

access with it (Chopman and Nuttall, 2011). The Internet was basically made in order

for the masses to grasp more information in a quick and precise manner. When people

talk about online journalism, it defines like a hypersonic wave version of the normal

journalism. It all comes down on how flashy different information travels without losing

its‟ reliability and content.

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 Quinn and Filak (2005) stated that “Online journalism offers the immediacy of TV

and radio ad the space to bring people the same amount of detail as in print publication.

It‟s easy to use, and it‟s interactive. You can choose how much information you want

and how you use it.” (p. 7)

Journalism is the art of telling a story in a concise and simple manner. It is

therefore a form of writing branded by direct presentation of concepts or picture of event

and is designed for publication (Malinao, 2008).

The traditional journalism has many forms such as newspaper and magazine

articles. The invention of televisions and radios was also used as a form of journalism

which also became a part of the next generation of traditional journalism. The online

journalism that captured the hearts of different nations can also be expressed in

different forms. The web can basically manage a broad range of forms which are

versatile enough than the traditional ones (Stovall, 2004).

Online news portrays almost the same thing we see and hear on televisions and

radios respectively. The only difference is that online news can be viewed by the people

as many times they want which means that information provided can be verified making

it precise and accurate. Some online news has features such as online chats, polls and

e-mail. Online chats create an interactive network that allows other participants and the

reporters itself engage in conferences regarding the news events. Online polls create a

quick survey which produces results bases on population that can distinguish the

readers‟ opinion about the news. Email can be used to ask questions and suggestions

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to authors, and functions as a share button at the same time; making the reader and

editor and distributor at the same time (Stovall, 2004).

One of the famous forms of online journalism is known as the weblog. It literally

means blogging on the web. Stovall (2007) mentions that “The Weblog is a powerful

manifestation of the interactive qualities of the Web, and many people believe that this

interactivity will spark a dramatic change in journalism itself.” (p.30). It was indeed true

and proven that weblogs are becoming more efficient factor to online journalism. One of

the major examples is that most users prefer to read weblog posts than other forms of

online journalism. The primary reason for that is because most weblogs are different

opinions and from real life experiences from the authors. Weblogs are very expressive

that authors can post every detail they have to convey.

Weblogs are very powerful because most articles over the internet are taking this

form. They look organized and neat, and viewers can access it easily through the use of

search engines. Most website designers appreciate this form as it can create a very

interactive place for people who visit the website. And most of all, it is very easy to use

just like notepad or Microsoft Word.

Photojournalism involves basically on sceneries and visionaries of photographs.

It is basically information without words. Many professional journalists nowadays take

photojournalism to a higher level proving that the Web can also be a factor that leads to

creativity (Stovall, 2004). Most photojournalism shown is part of online news that

indicates a scene of the related matter. It is used to enhance the readers‟ minds on how

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they picture the actual scene itself. Pictures can also serve as real time proofs for

viewers in order to access the information being delivered.

Some journalists try to render their message through the form of videos and

audios. YouTube is one of the famous video websites that contains clips that can

provide information to viewers. Videos and audios make it easier for viewers to

understand the matter that is being discussed. Both are interactive and can also serve

as an entertainment as well. Compared to reading articles and news, videos and audios

allow viewers to manifest the information that is being delivered, making it easier for us

to understand. Naturally, people are more eager to learn the information through videos

and audios.

Since the web became acknowledged as the next stage of journalism, there has

been many comparisons and arguments regarding the traditional journalism which

involves magazines, newspapers, televisions and radios, and the online journalism.

Newspapers and magazines undergo the process known as the print in which creates

hundreds and thousands of copy which will be distributed to readers. During ancient

times, man creates records and historical documents using pen and paper. It is the

foundation of everything that man has invented and thus it is a very important part in

journalism. Printing newspapers and magazines can also be a part of historical

documents. Furthermore, Boczkowski (2005) mentions that, “This congruence of

pressure to exploit the print business and pressure to innovate in the nonprint domain

makes online papers a decisive case of how established media deal with new

technologies.” (p. 4)

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 People feel like they witness the whole scene in TVs and radios; however they

are very passive because information can be missed easily when people get distracted

(Quinn and Filak, 2005). But still, TVs and radios are a very important part of the

progression of journalism as they provide the same information as online journalism,

although online journalism created a better progress for information.

The famous weblogs can be packaged as an overall for all the forms of online

journalism. Although it requires a lot of work, many journalists still prefer to do weblogs.

The generations nowadays prefer information that can be acquired in a fast way while

being entertained at the same time. This is why most people spend kachings for

designers and developers. Nonetheless, providing information and having a good

interface design are both necessary in order to attract viewers. Accessing weblogs is

always a few clicks away from one‟s computer while acquiring newspapers and

magazines requires a lot of effort and money. This makes online journalism a way lot

better than the traditional way. The Web is continually flourishing with more information

and more users which will eventually become an important factor in the advancement of

the web in the future (Stovall, 2004).

Stovall (2004) states that “As the Web travels through its second decade and

develops in new and sometimes unexpected ways, news websites have become more

difficult to define or even categorize.” The harder to define means that the web is

gradually growing (p. 89). As much as how technology grows significantly, the same

also goes for modern journalism. Online journalism is always equipped with advanced

tools and materials. Some might expect that the features of technology, as it grows, are

becoming more complicated that people might not be able to handle it anymore. But the

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good thing is that people still try their best to maximize its capabilities and implement it

well.

For a democratic country like the Philippines, it is always important on what the

society thinks and feels. So online journalism doesn‟t only take account on what the

author feels, but he/she should also consider on how the audience will react to it.

Another is that it literally creates a “New Public Sphere” that leans toward democracy

(Sungwoo, 2008). Filipinos are very expressive when it comes to freedom and

democracy. The Philippines already know what it feels like to be under such great

power that hinders their rights. The Filipinos experienced this during Marcos‟ reign

during 1980‟s. Freedom is a very valuable word from the previous generation, and it

continues to be delivered throughout the present generation.

The Philippine masses are very glad on how the country approaches the use of

information. Although, there are times that the media content is explicit and not healthy

for readers and viewers, especially the younger ones. Information travels like a speed of

light nowadays and can be accessed not only through desktops and laptops, but also

for mobile devices. Just imagine how many archives we can make for only a single day.

We are provided with innovated technology, now it is up to us to handle the information

properly.

The society became very expressive of ideas and thoughts. People can react

through comments and post replies. This is a symbol that Filipinos are being interactive

and they care for the welfare of their surroundings. A good example is that many are

posting about their insights through the twitter account of local media channels.

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 One of the major advantages of online journalism is, unlike newspapers, we are

no longer limited in a newspaper page, which can be seen in what we call websites.

This means that journalists have all the freedom to encode all the necessary information

they need to share without worrying about the space limit. This primarily creates a

bigger variety of information, although it can cause information overload. But still, there

is a variety of sources to read and can be further proven by journalists.

The greatest opportunity that online journalism brings is the possibility of direct

interactivity, which invisibly creates a relationship between the author and the reader.

Some may not realize, but reading articles online can create a bond that shares

different views and opinions with each other. As mentioned earlier, there are different

forms such as polls, forums and chats that can create conversations within the readers.

In addition, they could meet in offline world, so called reality, and feel sympathy toward

each other more strongly and finally, they could make public opinion and express it.

Another form of interactive communication is between reader and information. It means

readers can choose whatever they are interested in and read only that. Furthermore,

the reader can become a more active being.

Journalists use different sources in order to share what they have learned.

Acquiring information is just like a cycle in which they search for reliable sources in

order to improve and integrate the information. There was certain information that

cannot be proven in the past but can be proven today. We always look back in the past

in order to create a better future. Journalists must view information carefully because

they are more precious than diamonds and pearls. Information is quite fragile and

journalists should know how to handle it properly. As Stovall (2004) stated that “The

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development of web journalism will allow, if not force, journalists to examine some basic

questions about how we gather, process and distribute information, and what our

relationship with the audience is.” (p.12)

Most viewers/masses find different articles and posts by using different search

engines. Google is one of the most famous search engines out there. Through search

engines, we come across different articles that catch our attentions. The viewers should

know how to recognize the author of articles and news. This is to show respect to the

one who put through a lot of hard work with it. Hall (2001) mentions that “As the web‟s

audiences increase and broaden so its coverage becomes general. It has become a

mass medium drawing the content that we have come to expect of a mass medium”.

(pp. 34-35).

Online journalism has become a part of our everyday life, especially to students

of this generation. It is good to see that most students are aware on how to access

information, analyze it, and apply it to school. There is a boost of how we can accept

much information in such a small period of time without exerting any effort. Our job now

is to understand the information and put it in good use.

A survey regarding online journalism had been conducted by the researchers for

the students of De La Salle University – College of Computer Studies. CCS, widely

known as the College of Computer Studies was the controlled variable in this

experimental study in order for consistency of perspectives to take place. Gender which

is taking the place of being male or female is also kept controlled.

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 In the survey that the researchers conducted, it was found out that out of 30

respondents, 87% [26] agrees that the existence of webloging (blogging), forums, online

news and other forms of online journalism is relevant for the Philippine masses. Most of

them believed that it is because online journalism provides faster and easier access to

information and updates. However, 13% [4] of the respondents believed otherwise; they

believed that majority of population doesn‟t have knowledge with computers.

It was found that different online information gathering, namely weblogs, online

news, forums, photojournalism and videos/audios, is a big factor to Philippine online

journalism. By doing some statistical methods with the surveys on hand, videos and/or

audios ranked first, online news as second, third as photojournalism, and weblogs and

online forums ranked fourth and fifth respectively.

In this survey, it was also figured out that 86% [26] prefer the modern way of

gathering information whereas only 13% [4] prefer the traditional way. According to the

survey conducted, the modern way, which is composed of weblogs, online news, etc. is

preferred by the respondents more, because it is fast, convenient, and basically have all

of the information necessary for them to search on. On the other hand, the standing of

those who prefer the traditional way, which is composed of the books, newspapers,

magazines, etc., believes that it is more trustworthy, accurate to have security of

published sources than having abstract (intangible) online sources.

However, with the information gathered through this said survey, 69% [18] of

those who prefer modern manner of information gathering does not completely believe

that the notions and concepts provided in the Internet or the World Wide Web is reliable,

precise and accurate, but 35% [9] does; conversely, 50% [2] of those who select

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traditional system of information gathering believes that the information showed over the

Internet are reliable, precise and accurate, but 50% [2] otherwise.

The respondents who perceive that the information fed over the Internet are

unreliable consider so, because they perceive that these materials are changeable and

may contain fallacy for all those who can access the Internet can show and write up an

article claiming it to be true. While those who see it reliable enough believe that these

are trustworthy enough because they know how to choose the facts and the sources

over the Internet which are dependable and are from well-known sources (i.e. Yahoo!,

MSN, Google, etc.). These findings from the surveys do not shoulder the totality of the

stand and perception of all the students of De La Salle University for the sample size

was much smaller than the actual population of the said university.

With these results from the survey performed, it is seen that nowadays, online

journalism is more preferable by CCS students than the traditional and hard-to-search

books and papers. Nevertheless, this so-called, modern online journalism is still not

completely believed as reliable, precise and accurate due to the freedom of the masses

and/or journalists to express their thoughts as to what they may claim as true. This took

hand in hand with the researchers‟ stand as well. The researchers‟ stand is that the

preferences of the masses concerning online journalism is a real deal, big explosion for

this type of journalism possesses the properties like accessibility, availability, fast, easy

to explore, etc. However, with these notions on hand, it is also said that this type of

journalism is not perfect, unreliable – over some cases, and uncertain.

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 “Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are

uncertain. People are irrational” (Mackay, n.d.).

True enough, as once said by Mackay, nothing is perfect. Over the years,

journalism grew from simple piece of paper, to intangible displays on LCDs. As

journalism grows, it can be clearly distinguished that this piece of paper is holding up to

the paving way of a concrete „Information Age‟ or more characterized as the „Digital

Age‟. The people today evidently are part of the foundation of making this Digital Age

solid – through continual information gathering, and experimenting. In the current

standing of this digital age, a lot of our things and materials are currently associated

with the computer. And with these obvious evidences, it is safe to state that people are

indeed part of the gradual development of life and technology, specifically, the

journalism itself. It really verifies that life is messy and disorganized, relationships

between different aspects are complicated, results and products are unsure and

uncertain, because people are indeed irrational, especially regarding aspects of one‟s

life.

As the process of perfection with regards to journalism, predictions pertaining to

such for the future have risen from the abstract of thoughts of the researchers as well.

In time, there is a possibility for the death of the newspapers and/or the books,

magazines, or simply the traditional way. With the progress of the Internet, where a

person could have any information he wished to as long as he provide the data

necessary for the search to be done or have any information he wanted to share with

everybody online, it is not impossible to have the death of newspapers to come near.

Also, as the people go along the information or digital age, inventions will keep on going

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and discoveries will keep on trend; hence, the existence of the traditional manner of

journalism is really coming to an end. Another thing is that in time, everything hidden will

surely exist as a piece of information over the Internet as a form of online journalism

article. One click is just the constraint to access and share information over the

Internetwork. Hence, we cannot hide the truth of accessibility to online journalism

comes with such power to disseminate information. Whether the information is

important or potentially harmful, truth will prevail, in time. Looking ahead can let you see

what online journalism is really digging for.

There will always be a speculation or possibility that newspaper might someday

be discarded. Technology is gradually growing and it keeps improving from time to time.

The possibility of death of the newspapers can be economically helpful by saving trees

and protecting our mother earth. However, we will be throwing the foundation and

fundamentals of journalism itself. Journalism will fully adapt and depend on the Web

further enhancing the technology of online journalism.

With so much information around us, the unexpected growth of journalism can

both potentially become important or harmful for the society. It is true enough that with

so much information, it is very difficult to distinguish if it is genuine or not. This is the

reason why people should be wise enough on how to approach the information they

obtain. We cannot control anymore the flow and spread of information. It is our own duty

to maintain the originality and savor of the information. Online journalism is not harmful

as most people think. We all want to learn something new around us. We discover and

search something interesting that can captivate our minds. Online journalism will

continue to grow as much as how people grow with it.

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Thesis Statement: The expeditious growth of online journalism allows the computer-

literate masses to differentiate the difference between the traditional one, expand one‟s

knowledge and apply its relevance to the society.

Outline:

I. Introduction

A. Foundation of Online Journalism

1. History

2. Definition

B. Forms

1. Online News

2. Webloging

3. Photojournalism

4. Audio and Video

II. Body

A. The Old Way vs. New Way

1. Traditional manner of journalism

2. Journalism in the Digital Age

B. Impact on Society

1. Benefits of the Masses

2. Exercising Democracy

3. Ease of Information Dissemination

C. How it‟s being used and viewed

1. By journalists

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 2. By the masses

III. Survey

A. How Filipinos Accept Online Journalism

1. Preference for online information gathering

2. Traditional way Vs. Modern way

B. Progress of Information

1. Relevance for the audience

2. Reliability for the audience

IV. Conclusion

A. Survey Analysis

1. Audience preferences

2. Efficiency of online journalism

B. Prediction for future of online journalism

1. Death of newspapers

2. Access of the masses to important/potentially harmful information

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Appendix

Topic: Online Journalism

N: 30(15-females; 15-males) College of Computer Studies Students

Variable: College, Gender

1. Do you think the existence of webloging, forums, online news and other forms of

online journalism is relevant for the Philippine masses to be updated on the happenings

in the society?

2
No 2
Female
13 Male
Yes 13

0 5 10 15

Male
1
5 Accessibility

Doesn't Involve News

7
Doesn't Reach the Masses
1
1 Fast

Image of Country

15
 Female
1 1
6 Accessibility
Convenience

6 Fast
Inaccessibility
1
Society has no Knowledge

2. Rank the following according to your usage for online information gathering.

(Weblogs, Online News, Forums, Photojournalism, Videos/Audios)

Male
Weblogs
1
2
3
4 1st
Videos/Audios Online News
5 2nd
6 3rd
4th
5th

Photojournalism Forums

16
 Female
Weblogs
1
2
3
4 1st
Videos/Audios Online News
5 2nd
6 3rd
4th
5th

Photojournalism Forums

3. Which do you prefer in gathering information?

14
Modern Way 12
Female
1 Male
Traditional Way 3

0 5 10 15

Male
3 Accessibility
5
1
Convenience

Efficiency
6
Reliability & Accuracy

17
 Female
1
4

Accessibility
Convenience
9 Reliability & Accuracy

4. In your own perspective, are the information provided in the Internet (World Wide

Web) is reliable, precise and accurate?

11
No 8
Female
4 Male
Yes 7

0 5 10 15

Male

5
7
False Information

Open to all; Changeable

3 Reliable Enough

18
 Female
2 1

Availability
5 7 False Information
Open to all; Changeable
Reliable Enough

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References

Arao, P. A. (2006 September 25). The Practice of Online Journalism in the Philippines.
Personal Observations. 8 October 2011:
www.dannyarao.com/files/arao-journalism.pdf

Boczkwoski, P. (2005). Digitizing the News. United States of America:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Foust, J.C. (2005). Online Journalism: Principles and Practices of News for the Web.
Arizona: Holcomb Hathaway, Publishers, Inc.

Hall, J. (2001). Online Journalism. A critical planner. London: Pluto Press

Hugh Mackay. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. 3 November 2011:

www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hughmackay231481.html

Malinao, A. L. (2008). Journalism for Filipinos. Philippines: National Bookstore.

Nuttall, N. & Chapman, J. (2011). Journalism Today. A Themed History.

Pondicherry, India: Ho Printing (M) Sdn Bhd

Quinn, J. & Filak, V. (2005). Convergent Journalism. An Introduction

Stovall, J. G. (2004). Web Journalism. Practice and Promise of a New Medium.

United States of America: Pearson Education, Inc.

Sungwoo, C. (2008, January 3). Impact of Online Journalism.

8 October 2011: www.nopublic.com/opinions/impact-online-journalism

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