Ye Olde Communications Are a Thing of the Past, Folks

When you think of “way back when” in terms of communication, what comes to mind? A feather quill pen and ink pad? A yellow sheet of writing paper atop a desk lit by candlelight just waiting to be scribbled on? Or perhaps do you connect more with images of big boxy typewriters or the good ole’ radio static while listening to the evening news? Whatever thought your mind conjures about communications “back in the day,” it is likely entirely different from what you see now.

Giphy, 2024 

Digital technologies are arguably the most impactful developments of modern times. Professionals in the communication field have access to countless tools that make content creation and distribution easier than ever. Laptops offer work mobility, email and messaging apps provide instant conversation, smartphones are hubs of limitless information, and the internet alone hosts podcasts, social media platforms, and blogs galore to facilitate conversations by the truckload. Today,nine-in-ten Americans own a smartphone which just goes to show how reliant we are as a society on these modern amenities. All professionals need to be successful is the knowledge of how to best utilize these modern tools to curate and share their messages with the masses.

Journalists have experienced distinct shifts in how they work due to the development of new information technologies in recent decades. Everything from the inception of a story to how it is written, edited, and presented to the world has changed. Information no longer requires physical contact to be collected. Journalists can simply communicate via email/messenger/video conference/etc. to conduct interviews or discuss editing. The process of physically crafting a story has also changed as new technology systems and software have been created to better assist writers. Additionally, the presentation of news has also seen a massive overhaul as audience members now often prefer instant access via digital devices. Pair that immediate connectivity with the ability to engage on social platforms and the entire world of journalism is flipped entirely on its head from years past. These changes have been proven to support the strengths of journalism while providing opportunities to remain competitive in a highly connected world.

So goodbye ink and paper, typewriters, and radio static. And hello new technology!

Giphy, 2024