Wilson Lau New Media

Just have had a quick look at the Financial Times’ website, and feel amazed how an institution established more than a century ago has continued to develop to keep up with the latest trends. I believe the change is necessary as younger people do prefer getting news updates online. More companies (that have had their fingers burnt, including my previous employer) have put the bad memory of the Internet bubble behind them and again become interested in investing in Internet websites these days, but at the end of the day it is the sustainable advertising revenues that make websites a viable commercial product. According to an article in the State of the News Media, online revenues of newspapers’ sites still have a long way to go before they can match the numbers generated by the print editions. One of the FT’s editors reminded us at the workshop that the print edition still accounts for over 90% of the newspaper’s total revenue. The outlook seems positive. A securities firm Piper Jaffray in the US has predicted significant growth in online advertising revenues, this is exciting for any journalists who want to build a career in a new medium. In the article “Go to the web, young journalist!”, Anthony talks about preparing for the new job market. Podcast, video and blogs, online journalism is so much about multimedia and I am glad that we have the chance to learn the basic skills here at JMSC.

I think the online edition of a publication, be it a newspaper or a periodical, needs to offer something additional. As one comment to the above article says, “the idea of combining community outreach with online journalism is interesting”. It is more than that - it is this interaction between a publication and its audience that helps to bring out the “truth”, as we have learnt in the course Critical Issues. Check out the website of the independent newspaper based in Bangkok The Nation   and check out its webblog where its columnists and editors host their blogs. Isn’t it rewarding that a journalist can get realtime feedback from his/her readers? It also gives a voice to the community.

How is Internet changing journalism in Hong Kong?

Internet and blogs, on several occasions, have prompted the local media to react to some incidents. In my opinion, the episode of “Bus Uncle” video, was an example that bloggers uncovered a social phenomenon and provided a lead for the print media to follow up.

Another example is Joey Yung (recording artist/ actress) vs Victor & Rolf. After appearing in a facsimile copy of a ballet tutu dress featured in the designer duo’s latest 07 collection and being criticised for it, Ms Yung said she would ask her costume designer not to copy other people’s creations “100%”. Her remark prompted calls from bloggers for her to apologise and they said that she does not have any concept about intellectual property rights. Again the local newspapers picked up this lead originating from the Internet. The traditional media are increasingly being led by the Internet, they pick up more and more leads from the Internet.

I just wonder if Donald Tsang has set up a blog for his Hong Kong’s Chief Executive election campaign. If not, I would urge him to go to uniblogs.org and set it up right away.