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New media and journalism

The global use of new media benefits journalists in many ways due to the vast range of resources available and the countless technological possibilities; creating more opportunities. Also, the emergence of new media has accelerated the newsgathering process, sometimes allowing journalists to report from their office rather than on the battlefield (Deuze, 2003). Moreover, new media has changed the way journalists work, specifically how they report on the conflict. Journalists are progressively utilizing new media, Koch (1991) states that online content such as social media platforms, blog sites, and various search engines, supply journalists with far more information than the news organizations they are employed by and who send them on their assignments. The use of the internet by journalists reporting on conflict is seen to have many benefits associated with newsgathering, production, and distribution. It is, therefore, crucial to discuss the internet’s influence on the reporting process.

The internet as a form of technology that has caused a great difference in journalists lives, (Goel, 1997) describes the internet as ‘’a collection of individual data networks connected in such a way that information can be transmitted back and forth between any individual data network and any other individual data network’’ (pg. 3). Journalists who report on short notice and have limited research time, therefore utilize technology, specifically the internet to their advantage. In Howard Tumber and Frank Webster (2006) piece of literature ‘’Journalists Under Fire’’, a frontline correspondent stated ‘’Because of the lack of time for preparation, journalists working for large news organisations have an advantage in the resources available. They will generally have local contacts on the ground that are aware of problems and capable of resolving many of them beforehand’’ (pg. 77). Another frontline correspondent explains ‘’Apart from using newspaper libraries, books and Internet searches, journalists contact colleagues who have been to that country or area previously’’ (pg. 78). These extracts from Tumber (2006), proves Goel ‘s (1997) argument that the internet provides a means for journalists to communicate with each other and exchange information. Additionally, Barbara Jones of the Mail explained ‘’the Internet is a huge resource tool. I just printed out everything I could find about the background to the country, the background to the conflict, the background to British involvement, what kind of missiles and aircraft and troops they would be sending’’ (Tumber, 2006: 78). Once again, another editor, Dan Edger also acknowledged that the internet ‘can be the most powerful tool’, especially in the ‘initial research phase’, adding that ‘I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to find out quality information quickly before the internet’’ (Tumber, 2006: 78).

Satellite phones and journalism

Another form of technology as stated in ‘’Journalists Under Fire’’ are satellite phones. James Mates of ITN explains: ‘’ Satellite phones make it all possible, and especially now with the handheld satellite phones and the Internet… call phones seem to work everywhere. Even in the worst conflicts you often find a signal on your cell phone. Now we can feed pictures on a broadband connection on the internet… you can do telephone reports from anywhere… All these things have made 24 hours of news possible. ‘’ (Tumber, 2006: 84).