Digital changing the world around us
One of the many things I love about my job is that I get to engage in the way our consumption of media is changing as a result of the proliferation of new media, devices and the digital economy.
Within this, though, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the digital world and forget that many people are not yet into ebooks, smartphones, tablets or online communities.
Two recent news stories, however, have really brought home to me how our world is evolving around us as a result of the digital change.
Firstly, there was the phone hacking scandal. A terrible story from start to finish and something that captured the public disgust at practices behind the doors of the News of the World. What was interesting to me was how the traditional media, and by that I mean newspapers in particular, could simply not keep up with the pace of the story. News was simply breaking too fast, live online and in social media and inevitably the daily news was simply out of date. This story was a real demonstration of both the speed we can now digest news, how this has changed the way stories are communicated and how the traditional model is now out-paced.
Secondly, the current rioting in London. I’ve noted that some people are apportioning some blame to the internet for this – as if it was somehow at fault for what is happening? That I don’t understand, but what is clear is how social media and specifically Blackberry messenger is being used for groups of youngsters to communicate meeting places and create a groundswell of action. While this is all focused on the wrong goals, and many people have commented how the riots lack a core agenda, technology has allowed these thugs to quickly communicate and assemble on the streets of UK cities.
Both stories are deplorable, but both evidence of how digital is changing our society. In turn, the organisations that have to work within this, whether the media or police, will need to change and adapt too.
Image courtesy of Beacon Radio
