Journalism, like any other niche, has also been influenced by the Digital Media. The usage of digital technologies to research, produce and deliver (or make accessible) news and information is termed as Digital Journalism in simple. This session sheds an average light on all the aspects of digital jounalism in today's digital context ranging from the theories to the legal issues so concerned.

1. Digital Journalism
Presented by: Syed M. Raza.
Digital & Social Media Strategist /Consultant,
Founder: Social Media Club - Assam
A Session for Mass Communication Students

2. Story: Shark Bait.

3. The Faces

4. The Faces

5. So What is ‘Journalism’?
Gathering Assessing Creating
News & Information
Data & Events

6. Definition of Journalism
• Journalism is the activity of gathering,
assessing, creating, and presenting
news and information. – American Press
Institute.
• The media that journalism uses vary diversely and
include: content published via newspapers and
magazines (print), television and radio (broadcast),
and their digital media versions — news websites
and applications.

7. What does the world say?
• "In HK, journalism just means mass media.
The challenges it is facing is the increasing
trend of self-censorship as HK is relying
more and more on China. A lot of media
owners have business interests in China. At
the same time, HK citizens realise the need
of HK to depend on China for future growth
and survival. So they also want the media to
be less critical of China. Pragmatism
dominates." Hong Kong
Source: Reuters

8. What does the world say?
• "Journalism in Germany is often called the fourth
pillar of the state; its rights are stated in the German
constitution that guarantees the freedom of speech.
The founder of one of the most famous journalism
schools in the country, Wolf Schneider, defined
journalism as follows: To cut a path of information
through the jungle of worldly affairs and to keep an
eye on the people in power. Its greatest challenges:
At the moment, the greatest challenge to the
freedom of the press in Germany is the uncertain
economic situation and, because of this, the pressure
on the media from declining advertising revenue as
well as growing demands of proprietors to cut costs
often to the detriment of journalistic quality."
Source: Reuters

9. What is Digital Journalism?
• The use of digital technologies to
research, produce and deliver (or make
accessible) news and information to an
increasingly computer literate
audience. - Kevin Kawamoto.
• Depends on the way of consumption.

10. Digital Journalism
• UI – User interface,
• UX – User Experience.
The way of consumption.

11. History of Digital Journalism
• Teletext – Great Britain in 1970,
• Fax machines – H.S. Thompson in presidential
campaign trails,
• Videotex – 1979 by Prestel with various British
newspapers,
• Internet – 1990
• First online newspaper – The News &
Observer as NANDO.net

12. Characteristics of Digital Journalism
• Hypertextuality – The linking,
• Interactivity – Involving active humans or
machines in data gathering and information
seeking and sharing,
• Nonlinearity – Non traditional and out of the
logical ways of story-telling,
• Multimedia – Usage of more than one type of
media,
• Convergence – Blurring of old & news,
• Customization & Personalization
Cost Cutting

13. Types of Digital Journalism
• Photojournalism,
• Drone Journalism,
• Sensor Journalism,
• Advocacy Journalism,
• Broadcast Journalism,
• Investigative Journalism,
• Tabloid Journalism (entertainment)
• Yellow Journalism,
Types to Gather, Assess and Create
and Present news and info.

14. Commandments of Digital Journalism
• Truth,
• Loyal to citizens,
• Verified info,
• Independence from source,
• Monitoring power independently,
• Forum for public criticism,
• Interesting & relevant,
• Comprehensive & proportional,
• Personal ethics,
• Citizen feedback
Easy Access

15. Four Theories of Press
And their role in Digital Journalism
Fred S. Siebert, Theodore Peterson and Wilbur
Schramm gave these 4 theories of Press.
1. Authoritarian: State or elite ruled.
2. Libertarian: Present truth under any circumstances
(laissez faire) | Freedom of press.
3. Communist: State owned, criticism allowed, criticism of
ideology is forbidden.
4. Social Responsibility: From libertarian theory, press’s
responsibility is greater an issue and stand than freedom.

16. Uses & Gratification Theory
Users’ Stand/Behaviour
Motives

17. Indian Context
• Indian Journalism saw the face of Digital
Journalism starting from 1996.
• Times of India, The Hindu and The Indian Express
were the pioneers.
• Post 1999 saw a dotcom boom in India after
VSNL’s Internet shackles were gone.
• Rediff.com was the 1st major non-media company
to enter the cyberspace.
• NDTV and Zee News – among the first few news
channels to get their online presence in late 90’s.

18. 8 Rules for Digital Journalism
• KISS,
• Inverted Pyramid – Important part on top,
• Agency Person – Developing better & credible sources,
• Updated – As of breaking a news,
• Relevancy – What is being read,
• Fair Distribution of Importance,
• Accuracy – Must be well maintained,
• Error-free.

19. Legal Issues in Digital Journalism
• Open Records & Meetings,
• Access to Courts,
• Newsgathering,
• Sources and Subpoenas,
• Libel,
• Privacy,
• Censorship,
• Content Regulation.

20. Legal Issues in the Indian Context
• Digital Signatures – Section 3, IT Act 2000,
• Digital Evidence – Indian Evidence Act, 1872,
• Computer Programmes – TRIPS 1994, Copyright Act 99’
amendment,
• Broadcasting & Reprographic - 1983-84-94 Amendments,
• Multimedia & Reproduction – Section 13, Indian
Copyright Act,
• Compulsory Display of Certain Content – Section 52A,
Copyright Act,
• Protection of Rights Management Information (DRM) –
65A and 65B, Copyright Act,
• IT Amendment Bill 2008.

21. Closing Story
Peasant Removes the Stone!

22. Thank You
Syed Mohsin Raza
syed@socialmediasimplify.com
+91-9435488999
FB.com/SyedMRaza.in
@SyedMRaza