NEWS' Transformation

In the current age of disruption, news consumption which is an integral part of any individual’s life has witnessed lot of transformation. As per a recent study, newspaper dailies have readership of about 45 crores and around 15 crore users consume news through online apps/websites.

I still remember the golden days when we had to write an essay on NEWS in school explaining the literal meaning. News distribution happens through multiple channels like Print Newspaper, RADIO- majorly during commutes and evolving into PODCASTS, Television News - introducing visuals and Live reporting, Social media, websites and mobile apps have come into existence and evolved in the past few decades.

Newspapers have been around in India since the 18th century and as a traditional source provide in-depth analysis and credible news with more context allowing readers to engage deeply without any distractions.? Few regional local dailies also provide coverage of community events. News might not be available instantly but helps in improving language, increased memory retention and covers issue with focus.

Transitioning from traditional print newspapers to digital platforms, the way we access and interact with news has evolved significantly also shaping our understanding of the current events of the world around us. Digital news with it’s speed can provide real time updates on events and the penetration of smartphones has enabled everyone to become a news reporter as eyewitnesses opening a new dimension of citizen journalism. Online news is quite interactive for the reader with actions of like, share and comments fostering community interaction.? Social media algorithms tailor news content based on user preferences, trying to show users news stories that are relevant to them.

Not just source of news, the form of content has also changed from passages or audio commentary to video, infographics, holograms etc and length of news in short form content to provide to user convenience is one of the latest developments @Inshorts being one of the pioneers in this format. The delivery speed of news has also seen change from the wait of one day to instant distribution on website, apps and social media.

But there is also a flip side of the coin, accuracy and reliability is a major issue as fake news is spread by unverified websites and the distribution speed amplifying social media virality. Focus is also on publishing content at high frequency rather than relevant news. The platforms are flooded usually with news from entertainment industry using paid promotions. Social media creates a lot of instant gratification but negativity focus can push thoughts into dysthymia. ECHO CHAMBERS and FILTER BUBBLES are another issue with the algorithms leading to polarisation and limited perspectives. Personally, I also feel that the amount of information fed to the user is enormous and retention diminishes. Since there is no prioritisation happening and the user does not have more control over the tailoring or personalistion. Social Media news has also reduced the attention span to less than a minute which does not provide deep analysis of the topic. Privacy of user data is another raising concern due to cybersecurity threats.

Conclusively, both social media and newspapers have their own advantages and disadvantages as we look ahead into the future, it is clear that news consumption will continue to evolve, driven by advances in technology and changes in consumer behaviour along with valued good journalism. Ultimately, the choice between social media news and newspapers depends on the individual's preferences and priorities in consuming news. What are your thoughts on future disruptions in the field of news? How will AR, AI and ML transform the experience? Feel free to share your views.

Sources: 1) Statista

2)https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/new-media-leads-the-way-in-how-you-read-news/

3)https://www.themediaant.com/blog/highest-circulated-newspapers-in-india-2024/

Disclaimer -Opinions/view expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.