INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS ON NEWS DISSEMINATION IN KASHMIR

ABSTRACT In a democratic country, news is important in framing public opinion. Thus, the role of news media cannot be ignored in any democracy. Earlier the news was disseminated through conventional means of mass communication that include print versions of newspapers, radio and television. However, with the advancement of technology, the news media also got revolutionized. It became more interactive, quick, convergent and inexpensive. Now more news is available in the form of online/web newspapers, e-magazines, and blogs, podcasting/podcasting and news web portals. Besides, social networking sites like Face book, Twitter are also used for news purposes. While this online media is emerging worldwide, it is also gaining popularity in Kashmir especially among the youth. Leading newspapers and magazines of the valley (Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Time, Kashmir Monitor, etc.) have launched their online editions. Different news web portals were launched and face book also gained eminence as news media. During the 2010 uprising in Kashmir, a news website was launched from Kashmir called ‘Kashmir Dispatch'. Within couple of months of its launch when the print editions of the valley newspapers were banned and news on local channels was restricted, this news portal became popular. Since mobile SMSs were also banned in the valley, the use of Face book walls and accounts for the spreading of information on Kashmir increased. The paper will study the emergence of NEW MEDIA as NEWS media in Kashmir with the main focus on ‘Kashmir Dispatch'- a fast emerging news portal from Kashmir. It will also study the usage of Face book by the Kashmiri youth in disseminating information on Kashmir.