With the inception of the cyber age in the late 20th century, the world around us started changing so fast that it was almost impossible for anyone to keep track of the changes taking place. The development of the ICTs (information and communication technologies) was mistaken for the development of the architecture of the computer machines.
The Internet has become an integral part of our life. Without being online, we feel crippled. Social networking sites are the natural outcome of the demands of this ICTs-oriented world.
A journalist has to stay informed and updated every moment. Otherwise, your competitor will surpass you and eventually you’ll be outclassed. To keep your job protected from any such thrusts, you need sound background knowledge of the usage of new media i.e., alternative media/interactive media.
Using, contributing and practicing the new media is called eJournalism. eJournalism is the new-media-form of traditional journalism. The syllabus of journalism at the university level will have to be adapted to the needs of the new media. It shall have to be redefined in order to equip the students to cope with the needs of the ever-changing world.
There are at least five areas which need an immediate attention of the higher education commission in this regard:
1- ePapers (using and making and maintaining them).
2- Web radio (learning to tune into some channel, acquiring your own channel and then producing shows and finally up-linking/live streaming of them).
3- WebTV (watching, producing webcasting TV contents, live streaming them, archiving them).
4- Blogging (contributing to a blog site, creating your own blog site, attracting ads and Search Engine Optimisation of your blog site).
5- Journalists’ own website (creating, maintaining and updating the site, as well as optimising for the search engines and attracting advertisement for it in order to make it a sound source of income).
In addition to merely ‘introducing’ these subjects to a general student of journalism, these five subjects along with their off-shoots must be taught as a full-fledged track at the graduation and masters level at our universities.
University of the Punjab is going to start eJournalism as an optional subject in the 4th semester of their masters program. It is not at all sufficient. Covering the integral branches of the inevitable track in one semester and as the only one optional subject will prove to be an absolutely futile practice.
The government must pay due attention to the call of the time and appoint some really visionary media educationist who could work on it realistically and chalk out a potent and fertile syllabus covering all the branches and their buds discussed above. This syllabus, then, should be sent to and implemented by all the universities of Pakistan ensuring the uniformity and modernity.
AHMAD HAMMAD
Lahore
