Opportunities and Challenges of Media Convergence of Newspapers on the News: The case of Reporter Newspaper
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Date
2018-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempted to examine the main opportunities and challenges of media convergence of the newspaper in case of Reporter Amharic newspaper. The study also tries to find out how the newspaper has been adapting to new technology and remain competitive news source by enabling their audience/ readers on Internet using smart phones, laptops, personal computers or other electronic devices.
The study uses qualitative research method, and the data were collected using in-depth interviews with the respondents including the general manager of the Reporter newspaper, eight journalists and an IT expert working in the newsroom. The sample size is about 40% of the total population. Apart from this, contents that appeared on the Reporter Amharic newspaper and website in a period of six successive months were thoroughly analyzed.
The outcome of this research indicates that although the media house has started to utilize convergence of the newspaper for the last seven years, the utilization level of media convergence is at its infant stage and not well developed.
This study reveals that Reporter Amharic newspaper has a limitation on the utilization of media convergence including technological capacity, lack of skilled professionals, having no hyperlinked text, failed to apply Tweeter and LinkedIn as part of convergence.
The research out comes reveal that even though Media and Communication Center (MCC) is not doing well in utilizing media convergence of the newspaper to some extent and the media house enables to disseminate breaking news and other current information to its users/ readers and trying to become competitive in the industry.
The study also finds out the main challenges that the media house faces in utilizing media convergence of the newspaper include lack of structure to effectively implement convergence; poor Internet facility and absence of audience interaction platform as part of convergence are worth mentioned.
In line with this, it was recommened that necessary technical trainings should be provided to the media practitioners to fill their gap and implement media convergence effectively and efficiently. It is also necessary to use Tweeter and LinkedIn as part of the convergence activity and draw experience from other institution which is good at applying media convergence.
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media convergence of the newspaper, in case of Reporter Amharic newspaper