The New Information Age

The proliferation of computers, the internet, and communication devices over the last decade has justified the coining of the term the information age. Near instantaneous notice of news events have become a by product of this newer and faster communication modes. Well, in the last few years the term information age has taken on a new meaning. In the past, large broadcasting companies have had a lock on the news industry, but new advances have allowed the information age to take on a personal tone. An enterprising person could become a one person news media organization.
Desktop printing opened the personal media industry years ago. Many individuals have used desktop publishing software to create newsletters, magazines, and newspapers on their chosen topics. Modern desktop publishing software has become exceedingly easy to use and more affordable than in years past. Software such as Microsoft Publisher, Adobe PageMaker, QuarkXpress, and Corel Ventura are just a few of the most popular desktop publishing page layout software. Microsoft Publisher is the least expensive of the titles listed; starting around $60, but QuarkXpress is probably one the most powerful, professional, and expensive programs on the market for mini media moguls.
The next text based media that are making a wave in the information industry are blogs. Blogs or web logs are journals or articles that are written online by individuals that report on their topics of interest. Blogs have the ability to include links to other information online to bolster a report. This is an advantage over print media. Blogs grew from individual computer users, but they played an important role in the last presidential election. Blogs were recognized as an effective method of sharing information and perspectives. Many larger media outlets have since incorporated blogs into their current methods of distributing information.
The new incarnation of blogs are called vidblogs or video web logs. Vidblogs allow a person to create their own show. They allow you to record a broadcast using a video camera or webcam. The recordings are then posted in a chronological or archival order like text based blogs.
The radio industry is not immune from the advancement of personal communication either. Podcasting has become the preferred method to produce an online audio show. There are many ways to publish audio online using MP3 format. Podcasting differs in that it allows followers of a program to automatically receive new shows. The show can then be downloaded to a MP3 player and listened to at the listener’s convenience. Many people are using podcasting to self-produce syndicated online radio shows.
If you have ever dreamed of being a low budget Rupert Murdock or William Randolph Hearst, the technology exists to help you get started. The processes for using many of the media formats described today are relative easy to use. In most cases you only need your vision and desire to begin. Here are some websites to that you may find useful.
www.desktoppub.about.com
www.blog.com
www.vidblogs.com
www.ipodder.com