Will newspaper survive?

http://.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2007/1910844.htm

There has been a long discussion about whether the traditional print media, that is the print newspapers, will slowly vanish or be transformed into another genre, such as the online or digital newspaper.

In my view, the print newspapers will gradually die out but not suddenly, maybe by the next century.

The emergence of radio and television did not kill the print newspaper but now, with the rise of the hybrid media, the internet has become a threat to print newspapers. In fact, the internet is still considered as a new media and its credibility is not as strong as the traditional media including newspapers. Readers may choose to rely more on the print newspapers because they have such a long history and have gone through all types of changes of content and appearance.

Compared to the online news, reading newspapers is more convenient because no electronic device is needed. Not everyone can afford the cost of a computer as well as the cost of an internet connection. Newspapers are low in cost and so more affordable for most people. In addition, people from poorer countries may only be able to afford the cost of a newspaper and this may be the main medium for them to get information from their government as well as from the world.



The same assumptions were made about reading books. Book is considered a traditional print medium but books still survive in this market. Reading a newspaper is also a habit of reading for many people and this reading culture will not easily change. Different media satisfies different needs and newspapers still having their own market and target audience and are still surviving in this era.

In conclusion, whether traditional media or new media, the media have a role to orientate their audiences to the world of information and current issues. It is important for the readers to get in touch with the world without boundaries and this is the job of the media.

http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/newspapers_welcome.html

Freedom of Press in Zimbabwe?

Journalism in Zimbabwe is fully controlled and restricted not principally with their legislation, but because of their despot regime. People feel fear and are under control of their ruler because he (Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe) rules by fear with his power. People in Zimbabwe do not have the freedom to criticize or discuss issues about their government. For example, opening phone lines speak back radio are not allowed and completely restricted even if the topic is not intensely against the government (ABC radio 2007).

For the media, the journalists can only report news that is not against their government. They can be arrested, physically intimidated, or forced to exile if the content of the news is found to be offensive. Many Zimbabwean journalists try their very best to get news in and out of their country. They try various ways just to let their people know what is happening in Zimbabwe. One of the ways to reveal news to their people is by using text messages. Only 160 characters are allowed in one text message which consists of a headline and a brief story. These texts are sent to the peoples’ mobiles everyday. This phenomenon is getting more and more popular (ABC radio 2007).

There is an internet website called ZimOnline <http://www.zimonline.co.za/> which is another source of information for the Zimbabweans. It is also a medium for the Zimbabwean people discuss about issues that are not reported in the national media. Some people will print and make copies of the stories they receive online. They circulate these copies in order to let others to know too (ABC radio 2007).

<http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediarepot/stories/2007/1882324.htm>

What does freedom of speech or press freedom mean to the Zimbabweans?

People from Zimbabwe do not have the right to speak freely and the term ‘press freedom’ does not appear in their community. Their government only provides what they want the people to know rather than what the people want and need to know. In addition, most of the media are government-owned. With such a ruling environment, the people only get all the positive information about their government and think how their government wants them to think. Outside information is very limited and what they know is limited too. If they have any comments, they have got no place to express them or even to discuss them because it is not acceptable in this society.

As an outsider, we perceive that Zimbabwe is lacking freedom of speech and press freedom; however, some of the people (Zimbabweans and people from other countries) see it as normal. They do not perceive this as a big issue to this country and some Zimbabweans feel comfortable with the Mugabe’s regime. They see nothing wrong with it.

There is an interesting opinion site of how people see press freedom in Zimbabwe. Most of people who post opinions are Zimbabweans but they have different opinions on the journalism in Zimbabwe.<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/debates/african_debates/1182043.stm>

References

The news from and to Zimbabwe 2007, ABC Radio, viewed 19 April 2007, <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediarepot/stories/2007/1882324.htm>

Sexism in the workplace

Societies today have tendencies to create a gap between men and women. In fact, men and women are not equally treated and seen as the same. This has happened in most countries.

In real life, men and women are stereotyped into certain jobs. For example, men are frequently portrayed as the doctors, the politicians and policemen whereas females as the nurses, secretaries and housewives. If a married couple have the jobs of a doctor and a nurse, people might assume that the husband is the doctor and the wife is the nurse. This is the first thought in people's mind.

Gender stereotyping is clearly seen in the workplace as one can observe the differencial treatment between both. Compared to men, women tend to have more difficulties in reaching their goal in the hierarchical working environments and the glass ceiling impedes their ambitions. Furthermore, women are paid less compared to their male colleagues in the same type of position with same workload.

An issue related to this has risen in the “The Australian Newspaper, Page 14, April 19, Thursday Media Section”, <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21580812-7582,00.html > where doubts are experienced about the ability of female journalists to report sport news. Their ability is underestimated and questioned especially in reporting rugby league.

Most professional journalist has their own professionalism and is passionate about reporting news; there is no evidence to say that one journalist could excel another. Though rugby is a “male-dominated” game, there are many women who have even clearer ideas of what rugby is about compared to some men. So, it is possible to have professional female journalist chosen specially to report rugby league.

Beyond that, readers might appreciate a feminine point of view. A female journalist may give the audience something fresh and new while reporting the news from a different perspective.

Perhaps the reason to question female reporters' abilities is simply that men fear to loose their rank and status.

*This is an interesting article*
http://americanpressinstitute.org/2002curtis/

References

Jackson, S 2007, 'Work cut out for woman in rugby league', Australian 19 April, p.14.