The calibre of technology news is increasing. In an era where new devices, better connectivity and increasingly powerful technology are converging, this can lead to rapid disruption.
The world is increasingly controlled by a small group of technology giants, but the impact of this technology will be far-reaching. While 2021 may not be the end of the road for technology, it will be a year where more of the building blocks begin to fall into place. The job of journalists will be to make sense of the implications for the average person and ask questions about control and transparency.
As a result, many publishers are demanding richer data on content performance and faster information on product changes. New platforms like Substack have begun to prove their value to the media industry and the price of talent continues to rise.
CEO of a new tech news publication dubbed Technology News Australia, said, pay disparities among journalists and publishers could lead to tensions in newsrooms,”
“With the influx of new devices and the growing popularity of hyperpartisan opinion-led channels, the future of technology news is uncertain,” he said.
While television stations have been quick to use streaming apps to reach a younger audience, some have not taken advantage of the potential these platforms offer.
While a traditional newsroom may still focus on written news, the calibre of content has increased. It’s now possible to write an entire story in text, publish it on the web, and then turn it into a multimedia-rich visual story. As video is increasingly consumed through the internet, more content creators are turning to multimedia-rich web experiences to deliver the information that readers crave.
Publishers are now also being compensated for quality content. Many platforms expect to pay news publishers a significant amount to publish their stories on their platforms. However, half of respondents believe that quality news organisations should be compensated more, while a third would prefer a purely quantitative system that would reward most publishers. Ultimately, the future of media may depend on the quality of content. However, the challenge for publishers is to produce a product that is both attractive and enticing.
With the rapid pace of innovation, the rate of change has left many publishers feeling burnt. This makes it easier to start new things but more difficult to shut down old ones. In fact, some publishers are finding it harder to handle innovation and change because of the ‘coronavirus’ that has taken hold. According to Styli Charalambous, CEO of South Africa’s Daily Maverick, ‘new innovation management’ is a critical issue for newsrooms.
While there are many changes occurring in news, some of these changes aren’t universal. Some are minor and don’t affect individual decisions, while others are profound.
The rise of social media and the internet has shifted the balance of power between traditional news and new digital platforms. Meanwhile, technology and Artificial Intelligence applications are reshaping workplaces and all fields of production. The resulting dissonance is what makes the news media and technology industries so interesting.
While fake news is still a concern, it is important to remember that technology is moving at a fast pace. While fake news is an unfortunate side effect of this rapid development, the threat of fakery will be greater in the year 2021. With fake news and misinformation increasing, it is critical to be skeptical of any information that is attributed to the “deepfake” industry. And if you want to trust a source, make sure they have a strong source.
As a result of the increase in digital media, news outlets are expanding their outreach strategies. Nearly three-quarters of news outlets have a newsletter, an official presence on Apple News or Flipboard, and allow comments on articles. And, while news outlets are increasingly embracing social media, the quality of its content is also increasing.
Most news organisations have official pages on Twitter and Facebook, while nearly half of outlets have an account on YouTube. Only a few news outlets have Android and TikTok apps.
In Australia, new television channels are set to be regulated by the regulatory bodies requires that new TV channels offer a balance of political views, but these rules do not apply to online video. With improved tools, it has become easier to create professional news commentary and monetize it.
Spotify recently added video podcasts, which could help partisan news supercharge its content. The new UK channels may also introduce opinion-led channels.