Online social Audience

Explain the effect of technology on print newspapers?  (4 marks)

The effect of technology on print newspaper is that less and less people are using the print and using the technology instead as it is easier to access meaning people are far less likely to spend their money on

The online observer follows the structure of of the print edition there is a greater prominence for the lifestyle, food and sport sections that are otherwise kept out of the main section of the print newspaper
there is also a higher proportion of photography and headlines on the homepage compared to the front page

Traditionally, people who read audiences were passive. They could choose what newspaper to buy and could always write to the editor, but would accept the messages.

Online newspapers attract a far more active audience. The website itself has little user-generated content and audiences are limited to responding to journalists…although they can do and tend to debate!

The Twitter and Instagram feeds offer content for response.

Remember that neither is moderated, there is much more opportunity for trolling on these feeds, but they encourage a shorter audience attention span which can discourage debate.

Find one opinion piece of your choice from the observer website and note examples of different interpretations in the comments at the bottom of the page.