by Vilie Farah

Created on: June 29, 2010

Internet has managed to gain significant popularity as a reliable source of information. It recently became so influential that online media often manage to beat traditional print publications when it comes to reporting on the latest events.

Has internet brought the end of the print media era? Why is the web so powerful and will it ever manage to replace entirely newspapers and magazines?

The advantages of internet media need to be explored in order to find the answer to this question.

IMMEDIACY
Print publications are dependent on schedules. Online media have the power to report as soon as events take place.

Internet grants online media immediacy. Online publications are independent of layout and printing schedules. All that is required from an editor is reading through the report and uploading it.

No other medium can provide information in this rapid manner. Even TV reports require some time for editing and voice recording.

INSTANT UPDATES
Internet is dynamic. Reading online media enables people to monitor the manner in which events unfold.

When it comes to traditional newspapers, readers have to wait for the next issue to get a follow-up about an event of interest. Online publications can follow a story real-time and report as soon as something new happens.

Internet gives reporters and editors flexibility and the chance to compete against time.

ACCURACY
A mistake that appear in a print publication will remain there forever. A mistake committed by a reporter in an online media can be corrected, as soon as the accurate information is received.

Internet allows for the immediate correction of inaccurate reports. This quality enables web media to publish very precise accounts and to fix mistakes fast.

INTERACTION WITH READERS
Traditional print publications can do receive feedback from readers but this feedback is usually delayed. Online media get comments from readers as soon as the article is published.

Online media are interactive. Readers can comment, suggest new topics and discuss newsworthy issues. This constant communication with readers allows authors to decide on their future article topics and to determine what the specific audience likes.

AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE
Internet media are available everywhere. People can visit websites via their mobile phone, laptop, PC and a number of other personal devices.

Most online media provide information for free. A big number of important web publications opened their archives and no longer require any payment for access to old reports and stories.

Internet media are much more available and inexpensive than print publications. People can read news at work, at home, in the part or while having a coffee.

TARGETED
Internet has brought about the specialization of media. Each group of people can find a website that answers its specific needs.

Each website is specialized, providing people with the exact information they need. Further, internet grants everyone access to millions of websites on specific topics. No newspaper can beat the volume of information made available on daily basis online.

Interactivity, immediacy and accuracy are just some of the advantages of online media. And though print publications still appeal to many, online media are constantly gaining new fans. Internet is an innovative medium, which responds fast to the needs of people. Its flexibility has managed to displace traditional print publications and to stabilize the position of online media.

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