Role of Media in Electronic Print
Americans take the ability to stay informed seriously. Freedom of speech is so important it is guaranteed in the United States Constitution. Before the Internet, information was controlled by a few segments of the media.
Traditional print media and television possessed the power to control what and how much information people received. Electronic content of many types can now be easily accessed using an assortment of different media devices.
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Information
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Books and newspapers once dominated information access. No matter what form it takes, media is all about information. Different forms of media allow you to stay informed, express your opinion, see the opinions and ideas of others and learn. Media provides access to news, music, education and entertainment, and, often, different forms of media are integrated to provide better access to information.
In the past media consisted of books and newspapers. These outlets were strictly controlled by the various government and religious authorities in power at the time and dissenting voices were often punished severely.
Things improved as free speech became protected by law. In 1823 Thomas Jefferson wrote "The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed."
Online Newspapers
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The Internet is changing how newspapers are published. Unlike traditional print newspapers, online newspapers often combine different media applications to present information. Traditional print newspapers are shifting their operations online or going bust as circulation and ad revenues drop.
The New York Times online version is a good example of interactive media being used with electronic print. The site features stories and photos with interactive media features such as digital slide shows, embedded video and social networking tools to create a news source that is effective and user-friendly.
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Electronic Books
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Electronic book readers can store thousands of books. Digital books are a rapidly growing media option. Everything from comics and graphic novels to classic works of literature are available in electronic book form. E-books are available in several different formats, but the most commonly used is the Portable Document Format, .pdf, created by Adobe Systems Incorporated.
One indication of the growing popularity of e-books is their use by university libraries. The University of Pennsylvania Library houses more than 35,000 electronic books available for free download.
Electronic Media Devices
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PDA's and tablet PC's can access content from anywhere. Technology is bringing yesterday's science fiction to the everyday world. Like Captain Kirk reading a report you can get the morning paper or your favorite TV shows on the device of your choice because electronic media is now computer-free.
Tablet PC's, book readers and cell phones all allow you to access a wide array of media. Portable digital assistants and many other handheld devices use wireless technology and the Internet to access the content you want anywhere you are.
According to Eric Rumsey of the University of Iowa, tablet PCs such as the Apple iPad may be the digital salvation for traditional magazines. The tablet offers features such as the seamless blending of text and images that make it well suited to viewing magazine content.
Social Media
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Weblogs give citizen journalists a voice. The various social media outlets are having an impact on electronic publishing. Readers are encouraged by online magazines and newspapers to tweet, stumble and share the articles and pictures they like with friends and family.
Some of the social media sites have grown so large that they have become a news and information source in themselves. The rapid growth of web logs, or blogs, provides citizen journalists with a platform for reporting local happenings and expressing their views on various issues.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit digital data storage media studio isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com books 1 image by MLProject from Fotolia.com internet image by peter Hires Images from Fotolia.com pda and yellow book image by T.Tulic from Fotolia.com pda image by .shock from Fotolia.com internet image by arabesque from Fotolia.com
