In this age where digital platform rules, the role of traditional media has evolved in colossal proportions.
If you make a quick check, publications that thrived before the age of the internet mostly did not survive the cyber meteorite that hit print journalism in the past 10 years.
Born 16 years ago, EDGE DAVAO faced the same deadly explosion that eradicated many “Jurassic age” newspapers.
A bit of history here. EDGE DAVAO made the switch to mainstream daily news publication on its fifth year of operations from its original business paper format. The switch was a big leap of faith but knowing its two shepherds, EDGE DAVAO would take a bull by its horn.
Yes, EDGE DAVAO, the business paper, became EDGE DAVAO, the daily newspaper, just when newspapers are under real threat of extinction.
Call it strategy. EDGE DAVAO re-packaged itself into a pseudo online platform, using a radical design, splashing huge photos and presenting the news in a way that’s journalistically rule-breaking.
But that’s how you compete.
And for EDGE DAVAO, the only way to compete against an unbeknownst foe is by using the same format espoused by the enemy.
The gambit paid off. EDGE DAVAO kept the interest of people on newspapers. With a fresh look, EDGE DAVAO gave newspapers a fighting chance against online media.
Let’s face it, the digital age has completely changed the landscape of journalism in many ways than we imagined. Firstly, it has been a fatal blow to many. A decade ago when online platforms transformed media into an open playing field, the once revered and highly-regarded “fourth estate” lost its stronghold on being the sole source of news and views.
Slowly, press conferences, which used to be a regular fora among journalists, saw the emergence of new players called bloggers. Compared to journalists, bloggers don’t need to belong to a news organization. They create their own platform on social media which is a convenient outlet for one’s passion and expression. They are the keyboard warriors who only need a dependable internet connection and a good following measured by the number of subscribers, likes or views.
Later, a new breed of media called influencers joined bloggers as the latest addition to the antithesis to journalism.
Is this a video-killed-the-radio-star case coming through again?
We can’t rewind. Have we gone too far?
We get it. Like several others who have survived still, traditional journalism like EDGE DAVAO has to expand itself into digital journalism supported by online platforms. The current state of things for traditional journalism has changed the role of journalists in gathering, editing, and delivering news.
Today, traditional journalism like EDGE DAVAO has to deal with a different generation of readers who are engaging, keyboard savvy and yes, blood-thirsty.
Out there in the online world, readers respond with their unbridled comments. They are vocal. They are participative. They are active.
This evolution has made the role of a journalist more tricky as readers are not shy enough to express themselves in opinions shaped by political inclinations and social standards. Bashing has has replaced bullets to the regular menu of journalism threats.
While fewer journalists are killed these days, many are bashed everyday.
Journalists write the news. Readers make the noise.
EDGE DAVAO understands this phenomenon and we continue to thrive under the evolving changes in our journo-sphere. We are competing well amidst the cyberage holocaust.
Nope, there will be no video-killed-the-radio-star refrain here.
Sixteen years and counting, we have flipped the switch to cyberage and continue to exist and deliver our roles in whatever size, shape and form.
