Digital & social media skills essential for journalists

By Ajay Verma

The surprise announcement over a year ago of the legendary Newsweek magazine turning totally digital converted even the most skeptics into believers on the advent of the digital media age. Digital revolution in journalism is spreading as news gets disseminated through online articles, blogs, and social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and others.

Though print media is read widely and makes money, Indian news organizations are investing in online technology as well to satisfy consumers who want to reap the benefits that online media offers -- most current information, and ability to search and share instantly. The digital era dictates the rule that when their reporters learn about something newsworthy, they may share it well before that information is complete so the public can help fill in as the story develops.

With this rapidly emerging trend in journalism, many colleges are now emphasizing online and broadcast elements of news, while incorporating social media into their curriculum.

The Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore, for example, has developed a rigorous media stream in multimedia journalism. As media organizations scramble to catch up with this inevitable trend, more journalism colleges in India will be forced to reorient their curriculum.

Journalism in India has considerable employment scope these days, with media houses opening new channels or newspapers on a regular basis. While salaries are shooting up, the pool of skilled and qualified journalists is not keeping pace. Without sufficient number of good reporters and editors with today’s essential skills, the challenge that the profession faces is in meeting the demands of readers and viewers.

There is no doubt that digital media will change the way we receive news, and how we react to them. With digital journalism's participatory platforms attracting the public and mainstream media adopting interactivity through its online versions, the media scene is shifting towards an inclusive model that gives a voice to the publics and audiences as well.

About the author:

Ajay Verma  is a freelance Asia reporter for several newspapers in the US.