Nowadays, traditional media are confronted with the threat of being extinct as more people turn to the internet for up-to-date
news
with the facility of modern technologies.
While
some people are concerned with the downsides of
this
trend, I am convinced that we can reap more benefits.
The unparalleled timeliness of emerging media has enabled netizens to have easy access to current affairs fast. In a fraction of a
second,
tons of
news
are updated after website pages refresh,
in contrast
, launching a press report undergoes several processes including compiling, polishing, censoring and even delivery in the case of paper media, which is neither time-consuming nor economical. Another benefit opponents may possibly ignore is that online information can be even life-saving when it comes to natural disasters. Take earthquakes as an example, residents living several kilometres from the centre of the source can be well-informed when surfing the internet at the instant of occurrence, allowing sufficient time for evacuating and settling.
Moreover
, the internet is open to almost all citizens and is where they are exposed to diverse views on one event. Owing to the fact that online forums are widely accessible among the public, intense discussions on current affairs are likely to be sparkled,
thus
the degree of participation is high. Diversity of opinions and doubts on the validity of reports are allowed to thrive here,
whereas
news
analyses in newspapers tend to be one-sided and biased,
as well as
TV shows that obtain higher audience share through editing and distorting certain clips.
It may seem undeniable that the freedom to speak is attended by the possibility of disseminating misleading reports, and that where people are given the right to vent emotions and share experiences without revealing their true identities, rumours with particular intentions will ensue.
However
, the government are aware of
this
problem prior to the public and has taken tough measure to combat and curb the spread of rumours.
For instance
, the public who sends tip-offs of information that may lead to social unrest can be rewarded and the culprits to
such
issues are always faced with long prison terms.
In conclusion, I believe the
overall
benefits of receiving
news
online far outweigh its drawbacks. Not only the speed of transmission is greatly enhanced, but the diversity of perspectives on them is
also
more remarkable.