Convergent Journalism - Essay Example

The word convergence is used to provide meaning to the user but these individual definitions may not be according to the minds of readers. Convergence journalism is concerned with merging the print media, photojournalism, podcasting, video and broadcast. It also is concerned with the links between the internet and other media such as DVDs. All these media are converted to a dynamic media entity in which all team members understand and participate in the entire process during which they prepare information to distribute to the readers and viewers (Anderson, 2005).

Technology has helped to facilitate the creation of faster and more capable computers, digital camcorders and cameras. Devices like CDs and DVDs have all become involved in the process of spreading information. News travels very fast as it can be received by many devices like television, radio, newspapers, websites, cell phones and iPods. Another important achievement is that social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook have become popular among all age groups. This allows members to access their own pages to find out all kinds of information.

Convergence journalism is also concerned with online journaling or blogging which allows people to express their views. There are blogs of every type which can cover diverse fields like education, politics, news, opinions, recreation and sports. Blogs can be accessed by devices like computers, cell phones, and iPods. People are spending more time online as major shopping sites, networking sites, blogging sites and message boards offer a variety of diverse information to the people. Television news teams are now creating news packages to be shown on the web and on networks and stations.

The web packages include articles and other items found in newspapers. The web has also facilitated the use of interactive features which can provide a user friendly environment to the users. There are forums and blogs which can provide valuable information about the public's rating of major programs and news. Television news teams have also began to create new content on the web to attract young readers by providing interactive features like polls, blogs and forums (McNair, 2006).Streaming video and audio broadcasts are also offered for web viewers.

Local areas have been collaborating with these news channels as they provide up to date information on the web. Newspaper and television news teams now collaborate with each other as they try to present the news according to the environment. Some newspapers have moved their operations to the internet while others are partly keeping their home delivery. Some newspapers are offering home deliveries only on weekends because of the rising prices as they cannot meet their costs (Allan, 2006). Another form of convergence journalism is citizen journalism in which freelance citizens are allowed to become part of newspaper publications.

They provide information and access to content which online publications would have difficulty finding. The advent of digital photography has helped to discard the use of darkroom equipment