In India, traditional media came into existence in the 19th century. In the beginning, it was the radio which provided information and kept the masses updated with the current issues of the country. Newspapers were much more popular among the literate masses. When television was introduced in the 20th century, it became the most expensive form of traditional media. Gradually with the advancement of technology, new media started taking over, whereas, traditional media started shrinking by the day.
New media refers to social media, blogs, online newspapers which have made things easier for people who choose not to opt for television all the time, whereas, smartphones are easier to carry and provide news instantly. Advertisements in new media can be skipped, but not so on television, radio and the newspaper. It allows the general public to express their views and according to Reuter’s Annual Report on Digital News for 2019, Indians get their online news dominantly on mobiles.
However, traditional media has not been affected by the rise of the unconventional forms and still holds its due importance. It is still regarded for its uniqueness and has not yet lost the fight against advanced technologies, even though new media tends to be more personalized, more cost-friendly and can reach a massive number of customers globally. Some may say that traditional media is old and decaying, yet it is still regarded irreplaceable by several businesses. Both forms of media hold equal importance and are unique in their contribution globally. It would be wrong to presume that conventional media is losing its charm!