Trends in Asian Journalism: Moving Towards a Digital Era.

Introduction

Due to the increase in technological advancements worldwide, access to information has also increased dramatically. Details of a particular event can reach a large audience instantaneously. These changes are due to the ever increasing access to the internet and availability of smartphones; resulting in more individuals having access to information through blogs and social media platforms. This article will compare “traditional media” with “New Media” and examine why new media has become an increasingly popular source of information. Along with the advantages of new media, the article will explore the negative effects of new media in society and how civil society organizations can mitigate them whilst using new media to create a more positive impact in Asian societies.

“New Media”: the new player in Asian Journalism.

New media mainly refers to “computer-enabled media” such as blog sites, instant messaging applications and social media platforms.¹ In Asia, the use of new media has substantially increased, particularly in South East Asia. According to statistics by Google, since 2015 South East Asia has had 330 million users, making it the region with the third largest number of internet users worldwide.²

These developments are largely due to socioeconomic factors, such as an expanding market for smartphones, which makes them more affordable. In addition, increasing access to the internet throughout Asia makes information readily available to the population. Moreover, according to recent statistics, a large proportion of Asian countries have the fastest internet connections worldwide.³

New Media V.S Traditional Media

In comparison to conventional media such as newspapers, television and radio, the internet enables information to be retrieved instantly. The variety of medium through which information can be obtained makes the internet more attractive. In contrast to newspapers from which information is delivered through text, the internet offers a number of modes to engage with its audience. Information through the internet can, for example, be obtained in the form of text, audio or video.

The range of information available to the individual must also be taken into account. Due to a host of search engines and a multitude of websites, individuals now have wider access to information.

A study in 2015 concluded that newspapers are no longer the “gatekeepers” of news. Previously, traditional modes of media had control over the flow of information to the public. Thus, information was then censored and delivered in an ethical manner to appeal to all consumers. With the rise of social media, the flow of information has dramatically changed creating “citizen journalists”. Social media provides a platform where ordinary citizens can express themselves in the form of eyewitnesses of a particular event. Consequently, social media has revolutionized the journalistic landscape, resulting in multifaceted sources of information where the consumer has autonomy of the kind of information consumed.⁴

Social Media= Social Unrest??

Due to multiple sources of information and the lack of verification before it is shared, social media has become an unreliable source of information. The ability of the user to choose the information they consume also creates a bias as more often than not, individuals only select the information that reinforces their current world view. This is known as the “echo effect”. In addition, the ability for the public to have control over the flow of information results in biased information, resulting in increased popularity of “Fake News”. ⁵

These characteristics can be particularly detrimental to Asian societies considering the presence of multiple cultures, religious and political beliefs. Misinformation or Disinformation can easily create divisions in these societies. A recent example would be the ethnic tensions in February 2018 in Sri Lanka, which was fueled by the negative use of social media.⁶

Conclusion

Despite the negative effects of social media in Asian societies, it can still be used in a positive manner for the betterment of society. According to recent studies, there appears to be a decreasing market for traditional media. However, information obtained from conventional media outlets is more reliable and is relatively unbiased.

According to recent studies, there is also some consideration for a fusion between old and new media, as conventional media outlets are becoming more digitalized.⁷ In addition to new media outlets, civil society organizations can also use the same method of employing social media platforms to transmit information to create a more inclusive society.

References

1.   Alden, Chris and Amnon Aran. Foreign Policy Analysis: New approaches. London: Routledge, 2016.

2. Sipahimalani, Rohit and Rajan Anandan. “330 million internet users accelerating the growth of Southeast Asia's internet economy.” Google Blog. Dec 12, 2017. < https://www.blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/sea-internet-economy/>

3. Lee, Justina. “Asia-Pacific upgrading internet connectivity.” Nikkei Asian Review. June 06, 2017. < https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/Asia-Pacific-upgrading-internet-connectivity>

4. Price, Gareth. “Opportunities and Challenges for Journalism in the Digital Age: Asian and European Perspectives.” Chatham House.  August 2015. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/field/field_document/20150826JournalismDigitalAgePrice.pdf

5. Son, Johanna. “Southeast Asia: Time for a Pushback in Media Spaces.” Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. 27 Feb 2018. < https://th.boell.org/en/2018/02/27/southeast-asia-time-pushback-media-spaces/>

6. Safi, Michael and Amantha Perera. “Sri Lanka blocks social media as deadly violence continues.” The Guardian. 7 March 2018.                                                                                                                 <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/07/sri-lanka-blocks-social-media-as-deadly-violence-continues-buddhist-temple-anti-muslim-riots-kandy>

7. Newman, Nic. “Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2019.” Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford. Jan 2019.                                                                                    <https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-01/Newman_Predictions_2019_FINAL_2.pdf>

      Tharindi Rangoda is a Media and communications intern (Asia Regional) at Oxfam. She has a BSc International Relations (Second Class Honours Upper Division) from the University of London. 

 The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and not the institutional views of the BIDTI, nor do they necessarily reflect the position of any other institution or individual with which the author is affiliated.