Online Journalism in Pakistan

Online journalism
Digital journalism also known as online journalism is a contemporary form of journalism where
editorial content is distributed via the Internet as opposed to publishing via print or broadcast. Online
journalism is a process that has been in use for the past years by newspapers industries, journalist
report facts produced and distributed through the INTERNET. It has been noticed that people no longer
buy the printed out newspapers except they want to keep it for reference purposes but the internet
users sees it has a readily available and less costly network.
The internet makes news more interesting because of the interactivity and multimedia like videos,
audios e.t.c that are used.The online news organization is increasingly gloomy about its financial future
and online journalist are optimistic,reporting expanding newsroom.
Online Journalism in Pakistan

With the emergence of smart phones and social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
etc, digital media is changing the nature of traditional journalism in Pakistan and its ethics. Now
publishing is directly in the hands of citizens in the form of participating in live news coverage, writing
blogs, commenting on live commentary. Digital journalism is more interactive and immediate.
The digital media and its influence in Pakistani Journalism is very rapid and substantial. The
professional journalistic domain has been shared with citizens as journalists, the twitter, different
bloggers and other digital media users. This enables citizens to comment, contribute and share their
own opinion on the event, news and the topic. In every respect, the rise of a strong media is a healthy
development for Pakistan. It has strengthened civil society, held traditional power centers accountable,
has given voice to the silent majority and reined in any excesses of the State. The media has brought a
certain equilibrium to a society which was traditionally skewed heavily in favour of the elite. It has
altered national discourse in favour of the common Pakistani and directed the State’s attention to the
needs and compulsions of the common man on the street.
Challenges
Every revolution brings new possibilities and practices and threatens the existing ones. The
migration of audience to digital media leaves the Newspaper journalism struggles a bit at economical
front. Contraction of media (newspaper and newsrooms) to smart phone screens creates concern for
traditional journalism. The traditional old newspapers are forced to move to online editions and giving
space to the citizens to comment on any story. Though newspapers filter and edit the comments of the
citizens at different levels.
With evolution of digital media, the old media ethics are not enough for future needs as modern day is
more direct, interactive and always on. The existing principles were developed over the past century for
more traditional, professional and mass commercial newspapers. Now the need of the hour is to
develop ethics that cover not only commercial and professional journalism but also bound the citizens to
remain within the ethical sphere while contributing, commenting and sharing a story or news.
The challenge is how the newsroom or electronic media verify the contents shared by the citizens. The
traditional journalism is more accurate, the editors have time to re-verify the news before publishing.
The online or digital journalism more have a culture of immediacy, partiality, non professional
journalism and post publication corrections. The other challenge is the global impact of digital media.
We have seen that impact in different parts of the world already in the form of Arab Spring and in Hong
Kong as well.
Media ethics need to be revised and discussed more frequently on different levels to redefine them as
per the needs of current times. It is the time to educate the participants of digital media to be more
responsible while sharing. Any unverified content can just be a rumor or an allegation and can impact
the personal lives of others as well as can impact the opinion making on a larger scale.

Online Journalism in Pakistan

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Online journalism

users sees it has a readily available and less costly network.

and online journalist are optimistic,reporting expanding newsroom.

Online Journalism in Pakistan

needs and compulsions of the common man on the street.

citizens at different levels.

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