Whether we admit it or not, the new media shapes the way journalism is practiced nowadays. The fact that I took online journalism as an elective proves my strong belief in the potential of the Internet as the new medium which will shape society.

It wasn’t what I originally planned, admittedly being a late bloomer when it comes to technical stuff, but in one of the chitchats I had with fellow journalism majors, I was convinced by the premise that this is the “wave of the future.”

The advent of the Internet has opened a new door for journalists. Besides making it easier to access data and other documents, it made information dissemination a great deal faster through a step-by-step quick way to upload files to your own or your company’s website. Consequently, it is easier to post corrections to previously uploaded files.

According to an article in Bulatlat Online Magazine by Prof. Danny Arao, online publications do not have specific deadlines that must be met since updates can be uploaded anytime, which translates to having a little less of the pressures put on the shoulders of a journalist.

The online journalist now has a wider and more interactive audience. For me, there is some sense of fulfillment when I know that my readers appreciate my articles, or even when they make constructive comments about my writings. Links for feedback are usually provided by online authors for the convenience of the readers.

It is also more convenient when researching because it costs the journalist a lesser sum when doing background checks using the Net over the cost of transporting from place to place. Aside from the money being saved, precious time can also be allotted for other things.

Yes, one may successfully argue that the Internet makes journalists too dependent on the overload of online information which they put in their articles to the point of not sifting well through them. But that is why this subject exists—to inculcate in future journalists the value of always and forever having verified sources of information.

Online journalism education also instills in students the importance of other forms of mass media, and makes them realize the need to harness the different ways to reach out to as many as possible, as Prof. Danny Arao said in a commentary for the Philippine Journalism Review.

Yes, it entails bigger responsibilities but the more important thing is that a journalist is able to do service to the people through meaningful write-ups being published online.

As I learned in this course, creating a website doesn’t necessarily require a degree in computer science or information technology but just the patience and perseverance to learn—traits that a journalist must inherently or in the process possess.

Since there are still no laws that regulate the new media, what journalists have to put in mind are the guidelines or core values that are being taught in school. Accuracy, fairness, and balance, among others, must more so be given high regard in this age of the new media.

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