Recently, there has been talk about “new media vs. old media,” especially in the professional sports world. I don’t think there is that much of a gap, just a different system in how the media works.
I am however many years old, and I would have to say that I am a part of the old media. I’m part of the print newspaper generation, but I’m also a part of the social media generation.
In a sense, social media is “new media” because people can use different platforms to retrieve and pass on information. For professional athletes, social media is a platform to reply to analysts who critique players. Players like Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors uses his podcast to respond to analysts, reporters and others when he disagrees with their opinion. Whether the opposing opinion is based on fact, Green uses his platform to refute and defend himself.
That’s a form of “new media.”
The same goes for social media in small communities. Elected officials, businesses, community members and organizations use platforms to release information, but run the risk of being the victim of criticism.
Several businesses believe social media is the best way to spread their message. While I agree it is a useful source, I do not agree it is the end-all-be-all of communication. I still believe print is a strong asset for advertising and news reporting.
New media is based more on opinion rather than fact. It just takes one comment to start a thread of misinformation fueled by what someone thinks they know rather than what is actually true. When that happens, agreeing comments throw more fuel on the fire.
Online news sources – not Facebook, Instagram, etc., real news sources – are a mix of old and new media. It has the best of both worlds in a sense. This is a way to provide news without the chance of inaccurate commentary and opinions from readers. Of course, people can still provide their opinion in comments, but the facts are presented in written form by the reporter.
Both old and new media have their pros and cons, but which one gets the job done? In today’s technology driven society, new media seems like the best tool to find and release information. However, it takes the old media mindset to fact check, research and release accurate information.
While new media is flashy and easily accessible, if it doesn’t have the foundation of old media, then it’s just people talking and sharing opinions.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now, but before I do, I want to say rest in peace to Bill Russell. He revolutionized the game of basketball and broke barriers in his fight for civil rights.
“If you can take something to levels that very few other people can reach, then what you’re doing becomes art.”
– Bill Russell
