week 6 reading. presented by Zoe WangW

1. ONLINE JOURNALISM AND
ELECTION REPORTING IN INDIA
BY Zoe Wang

2. BACKGROUND
 General elections in India are the world’s
largest exercise in electoral democracy.
 The 2009 general election marked a
significant watershed in online campaigning
as well as online election reporting in India.
(blogs, microsites, social media)
 Online media is a new platform, but in a
limited manner.

3. BACKGROUND (cont.)
 Internet emerged late in India (mid-1990s).
 Internet access improved due to computer price
went down & small town were connected to the
Internet (2000s).
 India ranked fifth in the list of top-20 countries
using the Internet (2007).

4. Online News Media of India
 During general election period, Internet
community, journalists, political
commentators, bloggers and ordinary
citizens had been involved in discussions.
e.g. the incidents of shoe-throwing against congres

5.  Several newly launched election-specific sites and
blogs covered the 2009 general election in
impressive ways.
e.g. indiaelection.co.in
 Individual sources often became the site for oblique
lobbying for certain political ideologies.
e.g. BlogAdda
OneVote

6. Limitation of Online Media in India
 With only 3.7 per cent Internet penetration in
India.
 Mainly urban segmentation
 Almost all websites were available only in
English – less than 10% of India’s population
can access.
 Young people only care about the election
results.

7. Advantage of Online Media in India
 Traditional media frequently published
reports of how the 2009 general election
campaign enthusiastically embraced online
media.
 India ranks third in the number of Twitter
users.
 Integration of print, broadcast and web
journalism.

8. Modernity & Class-consciousness
 Modern journalism in India is marked by the
emerging participatory practices and
collaboration between traditional media and
new media.
 Modernity is connected with class-
consciousness.
e.g. ultimate election website

9.  However, Internet provides public space, but
does not constitute a public sphere.
 Political activities on the Internet were hardly
change the course of the election, but the
campaign will set a precedent for all future
elections in India.

10. Journalism of Attraction & Journalism of Utilitarian
Integration
 Journalism of Attraction: the reader is
somewhat external to the story space - lack
of interactive
 Journalism of Utilitarian integration: is more
collective and implements a range of
interactive devices, dragging us into the story
space. e.g. Twitter feeds

11. Attraction to Integration
 Indian politicians have begun considering the
Internet as a viable medium for interactive.
 The shift becomes evident in the journalistic
practices of political journalists and bloggers,
writing online.
 Reporting - Interacting

12. Obama’s Social Media Strategy
 Blogs: Close to 500 million blog postings
mentioned Obama, while only about 150
million blog posts mentioned McCain.
 MySpace: Obama held a clear lead with
844,927 My Space friends compared to
McCain’s 219,404.
 Twitter: Obama gained 2865 new followers
(for a total of 118,107), while John McCain’s
has 4942 followers in Total.

13. Newsroom Changes & PR
 Newsroom reductions in traditional media outlets &
rise of social media .
 The upcoming generations of publics do not place
the same value on traditional media and instead are
comfortable with online news and social media.
 PR professionals doing less traditional media
relations.
 “The impact of newsroom changes and the rise of
social media on the practice of media relations”

14. China’s Premier’s Social Media
Strategy
 Wen Jiabao answered Chinese netizens’
questions on the Internet on 28/02/09.
 Questions concerned various aspects, for
example, medical treatment, real estate,
education, stock market, etc.

15. Your Turn
Do you think this is a better way (online media)
for citizens to know country situation, rather than
traditional media like reporting on TV, or
newspaper post? Which kind of media seems
better?