What is Media?
Media is a source of communication that provides information from all over the world in just a few seconds. It is also a source of entertainment. We can see different programs, movies, and songs with the help of media.
Media also provides a lot of knowledge. For example, different programs are broadcasted on TV to give knowledge about science, humans, animals, planets, universe etc. It is also a source of advertisement. We can see different advertisements on newspapers, TV’s, and social media.
Types of media
Media is divided into two main types,
Electronic media and Print media.
Electronic media
Electronic media is a form of media which delivers news and information though electronic medium. Electronic media includes radio, television, internet, social media etc.
Print media
Print media is a form of media which delivers news and information through printed publications. Print media includes newspapers, magazines, brochures, flyers etc.
Forms of Electronic and Print media
There are various forms of Electronic and Print media but the two most prominent examples to explain this concept are:
Facebook is an American online social media and social networking site based in Menlo Park, California. Facebook was launched on February 4, 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg along with his fellow Harvard College students.
In March 2017 Facebook had around 1,94 billion monthly active users. In 2016 Facebook generated a revenue of 27,638$ billion. It is a very good platform to explain how the electronic media looks like because a lot of people are familiar to this platform.
The Guardian
Now another great example to explain print media is “The Guardian.”
The Guardian is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 by a cotton merchant John Edward. From 1821 until 1959 the newspaper was known as “The Manchester Guardian.”
In 2016 the Guardian’s print edition had an average daily circulation of roughly 162,000 copies in the country. In 2014 its online edition was the fifth most widely read newspaper in the world. The Guardian’s print and online edition has 9 million British readers.
Which form of media is more dominant?
As we are moving towards a more global world the forms of media have also changed. Now the electronic media has become a more dominant source of information due to social media. Different social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, are playing an important role in spreading information. Unlike print media you do not have to wait for a whole day to get the information which is also not current. Due to internet and various social media platforms you have the opportunity to update yourselves at any time.
Moreover, on television you can watch hourly news which will briefly update you about all the current important news and information that has happened recently. It is also not much boring because it is viewer friendly. On Tv you can also watch live debates, talk shows and music concerts. So, it also provides a source of visual entertainment and infotainment which attract the viewers for a much longer time.
But still print media and electronic media have their own importance. You can rely on the news and information published in the newspaper which is not always the case with the electronic media. On electronic media you will also find a lot of fake news and propaganda against other which is very seldom in print media. In other words, print media is more credible and reliable than electronic media.
Nevertheless, both print media and electronic media will remain relevant because of their advantages and disadvantages. But the percentage of people using electronic media in comparison to print media will continue to grow because the younger generation does not like to read much and are more kind of visual learners. They have usually a smartphone in their hands which provides them with nearly everything they need.
