Online Journalism on Water

Online media are the most modern media. Today, they are attracting predominantly young people, but there is little doubt that in future, traditional media segments will be replaced by communication through diverse online channels, such as podcasts instead of radio and video platforms instead of TV. The internet is universally accessible with mobile devices from almost any place in the world, 24/7. The increasingly common use of English in online communications underlines this trend towards universality. However, there is something even more exciting about online communications: they are interactive. While traditional mass media addresses their audience in a one-way direction, online media invite their audience to dialogue and participation. Furthermore, online media offer a new dimension: the opportunity to contribute user-generated content. Online media allow the inclusion of unlimited additional information through links, and they can create added value through surveys, offers, etc. Online journalism very often is about community building and networking – sharing information, not selling. All of this makes online media particularly suitable for independent journalism. What a chance for water reporting!

One note of caution, however: since many online media outlets intentionally expand the pool of those who are empowered to provide input, special attention must be paid to maintaining high journalistic standards, conducting unbiased research and verifying the trustworthiness of sources.