Print Media vs Electronic Media
The term media brings to mind images of newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the internet, as well as reporters and correspondents with their recording devices and cameras chasing celebrities. There was once a time when media was dominated by newspapers, and their owners were powerful moguls. The invention of radio and television opened up new possibilities, and the media became divided into print and electronic formats. The recent rise of the internet has further strengthened electronic media. For those interested in a media career, it is important to understand the differences between print media and electronic media. Let’s take a closer look.
Print Media
For almost a century, media was synonymous with print media as newspapers and magazines were the only sources of communication and information dissemination. Books, periodicals, newspapers, and so on were significant mediums in the form of paper and text, printed with ink. People had limited means of entertainment and relied heavily on the information provided by print media to form opinions. They began their mornings with newspapers to get their daily dose of information about politics, entertainment, sports, and their city and the world in general.
The information being in printed form, newspapers can be carried anywhere and read at any time. However, uneducated and illiterate people cannot benefit from print media as they cannot read. In print media, reporters and writers have no face and remain behind the scenes, living a life of anonymity. Print media is not available at all times and is published at regular intervals, so one must wait for the latest edition to arrive in the market.
Electronic Media
Electronic media includes all means of sharing information that are not in print form. Therefore, radio, television, and the internet are part of this form of media. People can listen to the radio and see live pictures of events and disasters along with the comments, opinions, and remarks of correspondents and experts who are now in front of the camera and not behind the scenes. This has made electronic media a much more powerful version of media as it has visual appeal and greater persuasive power. Live images can be very moving, swaying people’s opinions more easily than printed text. Electronic media, especially television, has been instrumental in not only disseminating information but also transforming the world of entertainment.
Electronic media provides 24-hour news channels with live programs. This means that one can access the latest breaking news at any time of the day and does not have to wait until morning to know what happened the previous evening. Live broadcasts of events have made the world seem smaller, as people can enjoy sporting events held thousands of kilometers away while also watching political summits and other important events. Who can forget the live images of the Pentagon and World Trade Center being attacked by terrorists on 9/11? Similarly, natural disasters are broadcast as they occur in remote corners of the world, making people aware of what is happening there.
Key Takeaways
- Print media is the earlier of the two types of media and ruled the scene for nearly a century.
- Print media is available at regular intervals, while electronic media is available 24/7 and provides access to breaking news worldwide through live images.
- Print media has a presence online, and the thin dividing line between print and electronic media has become blurred.
