"New News"

Lecture Week 2 - 5/3/12

Welcome to the 21^st century...

The power of the internet allows for instantaneous access to a whole new world by the tips of our fingertips and with the click of a mouse.

But for me, the ‘New News’ covered in JOUR1111 Lecture week 2, doesn’t seem new at all... 

Yes, the internet is new. To put it into perspective, go back 70 years and we are marveled by the power of the Television at providing news straight to our living rooms. Keep travelling further back to 1891 and the creation of the radio baffles us. Journey back even further in time and the industrial revolution making news even easier and cheaper to access.

The above diagram gives a small indication of the growth of social media over the years.

You might wonder why then, if I am aware of the amazing technological changes the past 200 years, why I feel "New News" isn't new. For my generation, this is normal. We were brought up on constant technological changes. Even more interesting, is the internet has always been a part of our education and subsequently our lives. 

While the lecture went on to distinguish the differences between Web 1.0 (information web), Web 2.0 (the social web) and Web 3.0 (semantic web). While I actively participate in all these layers of the internet, it is considered to be normal for my generation. However, contemplating these 3 versions, I couldn't help but reflect upon them with the 'traditional media' types and categories these as they fit into something familiar...

• Old Media And Baby Boomers - reliable and what we know, stick to general structure, and appreciate rules and structure. As some would say, slowly becoming redundant.
•  Web 1.0 And Generation X - While some may be able to completely understand the conventions of 2.0, the majority struggle to comprehend a cyber-world full of hyperlinks and “likes”. 1.0 is straight forward and to the point. There is a need, and a click solves that problem.
• Web 2.0 And Generation Y -Brought up as the internet was integrated into our daily routines, we've adopted to social networking. From MySpace in High School to Facebook, we are Prod users, reflecting the very nature Generation Y are seen to behave. Studies indicate that in jobs, generation Y’s are unlikely to stay put in any careers. Just like web 2.0, if we are not getting something out of it ourselves, we will move on to the next company. 

Web 3.0 however is where I am astounded.  The semantic web focuses on the individual. No matter where you are or what you are doing, it’s all about “me”. While some people are afraid that this is more an invasion of privacy, I am looking bigger picture…

As in our first Lecture we are encouraged to ask the questions, why is something the way it is? Look at the story from different perspectives. All I can think of, is what does this mean for media users? When is it too much? When will we become entirely dependent on the internet to the point where web 3.0 users will no longer have the option of living without it, now it is totally mobile, and customized to the individual?

This prompted me to engage in a discussion with college of mine over the weekend who has a daughter in Generation Z. The discussion was incredibly interesting. For the first time there are 5 generations in Australia in the work force all at once. The differing upbringings in each of these cultures is easily internet accessibility. Web 3.0 and the focus on the individual has now prompted further focus shifts between other aspects of life. She comments that he daughter is incredibly different to Generation Y's, mostly commenting on the fact everything is about themselves first, and social order second. She used the examples that work will be fit around their social schedule, family is no longer seen as the most important thing in life, and the order of authority is no longer there. These were all values that have slowly been seen as less and less important as generations shift. 


While there is always change, it is inevitable, in the course of history it does not generally occur so quickly with varying generations all being alive at the same time.


But back to the impact this web 3.0 and it's generation will have on Journalists...


For journalists, there will always be stories that need to be recorded and shown to the world. The pressure will be greater than ever as something that might have a few hours to release a story will now only have a few minutes in order to “Break” the news. Take the KONY2012 campaign. If you were not the company breaking the news of the viral video, by the time everyone was home for their evening news, the story was old. 


But, I am more than ready for the challenge that awaits me.

(The Jelly Belly's were a nice addition to the lecture as well.)

-Emmerleener