What is Web Journalism? Meaning, Characteristics, Skills Required, Career Scope and Salary

Web journalism has emerged as a powerful force in shaping the way we consume news and information. Check out this article to know the characteristics of web journalism and skills required to become a web journalist, prominent figures, prospects, career scope, and salary of a web journalist.

What is Web Journalism?

Web Journalism includes an individual using an internet connection to report or journal current affairs, latest events, or their day-to-day activity. These events or activities are published on the internet using a website, an app, or a video-sharing platform. Readers can like and share the published report. They can even comment and communicate with people around the world. Web Journalism can be done in the form of Article Writing, Online News Publishing, Mobile Journalism, Vlogging, Blogging, Journal Writing, and Podcasts. 

With the advancement of technology and everything being digital, the need and want for web journalism has increased at a fast pace. Web journalism changes the way people consume news. Not only information related to current happenings, but also in-depth analysis of an event, and many other stories and information can be shared through web journalism. Check out this article to know about web journalism in detail. Know what career options are available in web journalism.

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What is Web Journalism?

Web journalism, or online journalism, or you can also call it digital journalism, is a type of journalism tactic that has grown manifold in recent years, especially with the advent of the Internet and its global consumption. In web journalism, an individual journals or reports on current affairs or burning topics and publishes them on the internet via a website, an app, or a video-sharing platform like YouTube, etc. Article Writing, Online News Publishing, Mobile Journalism (MoJo), Blogging, Vlogging, Podcasts, and Journal Writing are some of the popular ways of web journalism.

In traditional times, people had to wait a day for news and the latest information to reach their homes. But, with the advancement in technology and the transformation of traditional media to online media, people now have access to real-time news. Now, the news is just one click away.

Platforms like The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed News, and Vox Media were among the first online media platforms to transform from traditional to digital media. They started engaging with the public with their innovative storytelling, multimedia content, and different engagement & marketing strategies. To give tough competition to these media giants, many independent bloggers such as Shradha Sharma (YourStory), Gaurav Chowdhary (Technical Guruji), Faizal Khan (MotorBeam), Dhruv Rathi (Independent Journalism), and Faye D'Souza started covering niche topics and providing an alternative perspective to any issue or news.

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Characteristics of Web Journalism 

Timing is the key when it comes to web journalism. It provides immediate information about the events happening around the world and provides a platform to the audience to interact and communicate with others, and share their opinions and issues. Web Journalism provides a platform to share information in different media and languages, reaching people globally. Unlike traditional media, where readers have to wait for the next day to check the news or wait for a specific time for news broadcast on radio and television, web journalism provides real-time updates, keeps the audience engaged through comments and social sharing.

Skills Required to Become a Web Journalist in India 

Aspiring journalists planning to enter the field of web journalism need to have a diverse skill set. Some of them are mentioned here - 

• Traditional journalistic principles along with digital literacy
• Technical expertise in the photography, editing, and graphics departments 
• Strong writing abilities 
• Proficiency in digital tools and platforms
• Critical thinking 
• Adaptability 
• Commitment to ethical journalism practices 

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Famous Web Journalists in the World and India 

On the global level, prominent names like Glenn Greenwald, Arianna Huffington, and Andrew Sullivan are famous for their groundbreaking work in digital media and online journalism. In India, the list goes long with notable web journalists like Barkha Dutt, who transitioned from TV to Mobile Journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, Magsaysay Awardee Ravish Kumar, to started his YouTube channel along with Faye D'Souza, who reported against the illegal land mafia in Goa. These journalists are renowned for their fearless reporting and incisive analysis.

Career Scope as a Web Journalist and Salary in India 

The career scope for web journalists in India is vast, as it has ample opportunities both in an independent capacity and across various media organizations. Many digital news startups even push forward to hire independent journalists as well as fresh college graduates for blogs and freelance journalism. 

The entry-level job profiles as a web journalist include reporter, content writer, multimedia journalist, editor, photographer, cameraman, graphics designer, etc. The salaries for journalists in India typically range from INR 3 lakh to INR 10 lakh per annum. A journalist's salary depends on various factors such as experience, qualifications, and business size.

Also Read: Salary of a Content Writer in India

Web Journalism Job Roles 

Web journalism job roles are pretty much the same as they would be for any type of internet content creation. Let’s list them out. 

• Journalists, Content Writers, Copywriters: Their roles include generating story ideas, covering stories, interviewing people, researching and writing the stories, snippets, captions, etc. 
• Editors: Editors go through copies and do a final quality control before a piece or a post is published. 
• Static and Video Editors: These people work on every bit of visual content and edit photos and videos like thumbnails, posters, teasers, trailers, stories, full production videos, etc.
• SEO Professionals: Every bit of content that is published online needs SEO to make sure that it reaches its target audience.   
• Managers, Talent Managers: These people are responsible for scheduling, setting up deals, etc., between two collaborating parties.
• Cameramen and Videographers: To shoot visual content.  

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