Print Journalism in the Era of Electronic Media

Abstract

Using the Internet and other new information and communication technologies has become an inherent part of human life since a lot of our work and private activities take place in online environment – thanks to various communication tools such as smartphones, tablets, etc. These technologies have become also important ways and means used to acquire and disseminate information. The impact of technological progress on journalism and its products cannot be understated. The ongoing trends lead us to the conclusion that newspapers are currently looking for new ways of distribution and new forms of existence, especially in electronic environment, in order to attract the readers – users of new media and various technologies related to them. The basic assumption of the article is that their success fully depends on effective using of these technologies by people with physical disabilities or other disadvantages. Since these media also carry information contents, the form of the presentation of information always corresponds with the overall character of given medium. Mainly for this reason, the number of new applications for smartphones, tablets or smart televisions is increasing in these days. These applications react to the demands of effectiveness, intelligibility and interactivity of the offered services while the key factor that determines the selection of information is the reader, user of such devices. The aim of the article is to discuss the relationship between new communication technologies and journalism, focusing on new ways and forms of distribution of newspapers or – more specifically – selected news to the readers. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s2p48