The Role of New Media in Mass Media

Mass Media
The definition of mass media is almost self explanatory. Mass media are different technologies from the media that are intended to spread information to the large audience through mass communication. This is a fast and easy way of spreading words to the public. Radio, television, films, and music are broacast medias that transmit their information electronically. The spread of information is through electronic devices. Another form of mass media is print media, which are newspapers, phamplets, and books. These are hardcopy forms of information that people can pick up and read about news or information that they were not aware of. There is also another form of mass media, which is the outdoor media. This type of media contains billboards, signs, and placards placed outside of commercial buildings or sports stadiums. People who put up advertisements around these buildings are places where many people passby or see. There are many other types of mass medias such as public speaking and blogs. As simple as it sounds, mass media is any form of media that spreads words to the general public.

New Media
New Media refers to technology that can be access anytime and anywhere. Most new media technologies are digital so it includes ipads and iphones. Many people argue that phones are not a type of new media, but rather just a regeneration of the old mobiles. Although this is debatable, old cellphones were huge and inconvinient. New technologies now are concise and very portable. This is the best part of new media. It is easy to access and convinient to bring around. For example, Terry Flew comments that there are many new aspects of new media aside from just technologies. Some examples are convergence, globalization, cyberspace, digital capitalism, interactivity, and security. Other new medias include the internet, video games, and social networking sites such as Linkedin and Facebook. Old media consist of newspapers, books, television programs, magazines, and films. For example, Wikipedia is a new media which contacts information and database on topics that you can find quickly through the Internet. The process is a lot more convinient compare to going to the library to find the book on the topic you are researching. New Media has made life a lot more comfortable and accessible.

Advertisement
Media can shape the public's opinion in different ways depending on the content the reader is exposed to. Advertisement plays a big role in mass media. Companies pay millions of dollars in revenues to market their products and company image. The media receives billions of dollars from companies and people who need mass media fast and quick. Advertisements are usually seen during popular television channels or billboards that are frequently spotted. Advertisements trys to convince to the public, what products and services we should buy and what is the best brand. Because of the large amount of persuasive advertisement, we resort to other sorts of mass media to make our decisions when we are unable to decide. People tend to buy products base on brands or something they have heard about when they are unsure of what to buy. This is where mass media comes to play. These ads frequently make us feel like the product or services are wanted and other people are using it as well. We tend to buy things other people have or like. Companies use famous celebrities to market their product because they know that people like to buy things that famous people use to feel closer to them. These are all part of mass media.

Online Newspapers
An online newspaper is one that available on the Internet. It is also know as a web newspaper. Online newspapers are steadily becoming popular in today’s world. An online newspaper gives its readers fast and important news in no time. A reader can easily have access to news anytime he wants to whether he is at home or at work, without having to buy the paper first from any store. Now a days, almost everyone has access to internet, which makes news only one click away from the readers.

They are made more attractive in order to gain attention of people with bright, vibrant colors, whereas the traditional printed newspapers usually have light colors. Furthermore, more pictures, videos, magazines and news links are incorporated in online newspapers so that people may satisfy their curiosity by reading from other sources as well. Apart from this most of these papers are free by subscribing but they are frequently updated with latest breaking news and happenings around the world. Following are the some of the famous online newspapers from around the Globe : •	[The New York Times] (United States) •	Washington Post (United States) •	Boston Herald (United States) •	Daily Express (Pakistan) •	International Herald Tribune (Britain) •	The Sun (Britain)



Advantages of Online Newspapers
Today people favor online newspapers more than the printed old ones. One of the major reason of this preference is because of the trouble-free access through which we can get news on hourly bases. People do not have to wait for tomorrow to get information on a certain event - within seconds news is updated on the sites. Furthermore online newspapers are most of the time free for cost which makes it even more appealing. People who are busy in work and do not have the time to go to the outlets can now read news at the comforts of their homes or workplaces. Moreover an online newspaper offers the readers to contribute in it by giving them chance to discuss the political or social issues, giving them a medium to voice their views and ideas. Print newspapers are often criticized by environmentalists for the huge wastage of paper that is created when they are discarded and disposed, which enhances the effects of global warming on the planet. This makes online newspapers environment friendly.



Disadvantages of Online Newspapers
On the other hand one of the biggest disadvantages of online newspaper is that, they are not cited as being very reliable. In an online newspaper, the limit to write information on any incident or news is often more than a traditional news paper. These newspapers can sometimes become misleading as they add more from their own and provide less authentic information on the occurrence. However, a traditional newspaper has a limit which gives the news more credibility and less room for fake information. Still many people belonging to the third world countries have no access to internet. That makes it impossible for them to access of an online newspaper. Online newspapers help to promote in the sense that it provides them with direct reach to updated information. They are easy to carry and even easier to share with friends and others through Facebook, Twitter etc. However, there are many still who like to read news and discuss it with each other while eating breakfasts early every morning.