Online media surprise
The latest report of the Canadian Internet Project seems to defy the conventional wisdom that the Internet is killing journalism. An excerpt…
The latest report of the Canadian Internet Project seems to defy the conventional wisdom that the Internet is killing journalism. An excerpt:
“With the increase of time spent online, the use of traditional media has declined slightly. However, the 2007 study shows online activities appear to supplement rather than displace traditional media use.
“Conventional wisdom would suggest that Internet use has increased at the expense of traditional media,” says Professor Zamaria. “But the amount of time spent attending to conventional media by Internet users and non-users is virtually identical. In general, we found that Internet users are not finding time to be online by taking away from their traditional media diet. In many ways, media activity just begets more media activity.”
A CanWest story on the report — “Internet use augments older media: study” — is here.
(A somewhat related topic, the role of the Internet in political campaigns, is examined here by the Globe and Mail.)
As a journalist I’m an atypical Internet user, but I now read or watch or listen to almost all my journalism online. The exceptions in my own media habits are quality magazines — perhaps even more, I appreciate the look, feel and convenience of great magazine photos and stories on paper.
