# EXAM TIME #

Q. How does online redefine the notion of mass communication? Discuss with suitable examples.

Ans: Mass communication is simply a process to influence (inform, entertain and persuade) a large group of people (audiences) by disseminating the messages employing technical mediums that involve electronic media and often print. It is considered to be one of the branches of communication that through communication process affects the widely dispersed audiences.

Mass communication generally, in a broader sense defines the process of message dissemination via traditional media like newspaper, magazines, films, radio, television, etc where as online, technically, is introduced as an emerging trend of two way communication, in the field of mass communication. Online is a term that is connected to the internet. With the access to internet the whole world is in the state of experiencing media convergence. Online has evolved the sense of virtual reality. With the benefits of accessing internet, socializing and commercializing has progressed. Online has also accommodated the freedom of expression.

As said, ‘nothing in this world is permanent but the change’, media-morphosis is actually taking place. With the development of traditional media, the practice and medium is transforming simultaneously, and ‘online media’ is strong evidence.
Online media stands alone as a mass communication medium that embodies the convergence of electronic and print media. The merging of audio, video, text and graphics with animation creates communication among individuals providing them with news, entertainment and information. Advanced computer technologies and internet connectivity has revolutionized the world of gathering, organizing, presenting and disseminating information. For example, Youtube is considered to be the most popular video sharing website, where millions of videos in the form of news/entertainment/education/information are uploaded and shared every single day. Facebook is considered to be the most popular social networking sites that connects millions of families, relatives and friends together, also allowing the service to share and upload videos, photos and text in the form of comments likewise, twitter is another social networking site. Online news portals shares all kinds of news and informations allowing two way communication in the form of feedback and comments. Today, many of us download books from internet that are called e-books, we download journals, documents, etc. We have online newspapers and magazines; for example, Kantipur publishes its print as well as runs an online version at ekantipur.com. Along with a rise in cyberspace and virtual community, Video logging and blogging has turned out to be well surfed expression sites. We are aware of all the incidents, events and affairs that are happening beyond pacific ocean, because of convergence.

Asia has the largest percentage of internet users in the world that’s exactly 44% of the total whereas Europe is the second largest. Yet, we cannot deny the fact that Nepal being an Asian country still lacks behind. Many parts of this country lag electricity power, internet access is beyond imagination. Illiteracy and ignorance have blocked the reach of traditional and online media content.


Q. Discuss citizen journalism. Also discuss how the online media have been vital in the development of citizen journalism.

Ans: Citizen journalism is the voice of the citizen expressing, analyzing and debating on certain issues, situation and events. Citizen journalists are those individuals who play an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information. In the world of uncertainty, incidents can occur in a while; accidents can happen in a blink, professional reporter may not timely show their presence to report the actual incident. A citizen can report by himself the actual story. Citizen journalism with certain delimitation allows a citizen to express and share their own views and opinions via posts, comments on blogs and websites or by uploading and sharing videos and photos. For example, in context to some Nepalese way of expression, different satirical cartoons have been published in newspapers regarding political instability in the country. Likewise, we can find people sharing photos regarding accidents, events ad notes in social networking sites.

Many times contradictory issues are also expressed because of which there is a contested debate on citizen journalism challenging the professional traditional journalism.

Main stream media, which was the only primary news source in pre-internet era has been challenged today with an emergence of online media. Online journalism has widened its scope in journalism, also broadening the quality and quantity of its content. It stands out merging the crowds of main stream contents. Online journalism is all about reporting the facts and informing the audiences at large scale. Online media have played a fundamental role in developing citizen journalism. It is all about placing critical and personal views, thoughts and opinion by methods of blogging, posts and comments in websites and portals and media channels, sharing photos and videos on personal blogs and social networking sites, etc. all these are possible and active only during online connectivity. Online connectivity allows to create one’s own blogs and wesites where people can express their views and comments, fundamental to citizen journalism.


Q. Discuss functions and dysfunctions of Web 2.0 and social media with suitable examples.

Ans: Web2.0 is considered to be just another version of World Wide Web. Its website allows the users to do more than just retrieve information. Web2.0 and social media is internet based service of second generation that helps in online collaboration and sharing things in internet with the help of wikis, podcast, micro blogging, weblogs, social blogs, etc. Social networking sites come inside. It can be used to communicate online with people and the main advantage is that not only people can use this service but service can be used in podcasting, blogging, social networking and social bookmarking.

Functions:
-Individuals can express to the society via their own blogs. Citizen journalism can take a huge leap.
-Individual can open up their creativity and ways of expression by creating their own websites.
-Photos and videos sharing allows a maximum news/information/entertainment flow.
-Social bookmarking stores and allows users to comment on their favourite web resources and share them with others.
-Networking is effective. With the help of social networking sites people can connect to their relatives and friends staying far away. It also helps find a lost friend.

Dysfunctions:
-Errors can introduce once there is an overload of information or any kind of files.
-High chances of introducing false notifications and informations.
-Its ineffective usage or misuse can lead to harm in the self reputation.
-The informations are transparent.
-Fake authority and identity
-Too complex and contradictory expression may lead to trouble.


SHORT NOTES:

Q. Mark Zukerberg

Mark Zukerberg is a well known personality, known to be the co-founder, chairman and a chief executive of the most popular social networking site called ‘Facebook’. He is a computer programmer and an internet entrepreneur. After facebook he also launched a peer-to-peer file sharing service called Wirehog, which was known to be the precursor to Facebook platform application. Since his childhood, he had keen interest in computers and used to create new programs. When he was 12, he used AtariBASIC to create a messaging program and named it ‘Zucknet’ which was used by his father later in his dental office. To keep his interest in computers his parents hired a personal tutor.

Zukerberg, in 2007, was announced as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35 and he was named to MIT Technology Review TR35. Zuckerberg is also considered to be one of the 100 wealthiest man and most influential people in the world by Time magazine’s Person of the Year.