Ajit Deshpande

I. Anja Kröll. 2015. The role of Journalism in the Digital Age, ​Reuters Institute Fellowship Paper, University of Oxford.​
Establishing an analogy between journalists, Clark Kent and Superman, this journal article builds upon the impact of new media and technology on traditional journalism with great effortlessness. The article discusses the concept of networked journalism, which it explains to be greater involvement of the public in the process of journalism. This concept delineates the emergence of modern forms of providing information (or, in some cases, influencing the minds of consumers) such as blogging, social networking and open-sourcing.
I have chosen this article since I feel it analyzes the concept of networked journalism, taking into consideration various points of view with equal attention to detail. The use of case studies while considering each perspective is both informative and exciting. It also logically elucidates the impact of technological forms of information sharing with an insightful use of statistics. This article would be useful to explain the rapid changes in journalism in a digital world to readers who have a background associated with statistics or technology or even to someone with interests in comic book heroes and their stories. It is a great introductory article for this course to set the tone for the understanding of modern journalism.
II. Pathways to News: How Audiences Discover News Online, ​Digital News Report
This online report is an excellent study to understand the contextual background of modern journalism – how readers find content online, what interests the users and the importance of establishing trust in the minds of the user. The use of charts and graphs is easy to understand and also establishes clarity of thought in the reader. The interactive graphs also enhance the reading experience. The features for which this report provides data are very pertinent and presented carefully in a logical sequence. For instance, the report discusses optimizing the content, keeping in mind both the social media and search engine results. The analysis is also done for different parts of the world, highlighting the different mindsets of readers.
I have chosen this report since it provides a fascinating analysis of the consumer market for modern journalism. It is similar to understanding the sound design of a theatre before singing a rendition or studying the pitch before going out to bat.This report is an effective way to prepare for creating any new technology or a new media website or application that aims to provide relevant and interesting content without sensationalizing the incidents.
III. Craig Silverman, Verification Handbook – A Definitive Guide to Verifying Digital Content for Media Coverage, ​The Poynter Institute
In the age of extreme usage of digital media, there is a large amount of information that is false or unverified, illustrated by the fact that a lot of the news online is a hoax or a spread of misinformation. This online resource provides a fascinating analysis of the need and methods to verify the source of facts/news. There are various sections to the handbook, each analyzing a particular part of the verification of content with the help of a case study. The idea of including case studies is particularly useful to give a solid supporting piece to each methodology of verification.
This handbook is designed to provide a set of guidelines to verify reports, especially in the cases of social and political emergencies. Additionally, it could also be employed in cases where the subject matter is sensitive. The handbook is technically involved and explores various techniques of verification by introducing technological concepts such as image processing and web development. Even after being technically involved, the handbook maintains the curiosity of the reader like a detective novel. This can undoubtedly be attributed to the various case studies, embedded tweets and other images that act like demonstrations for the concept discussed.
IV. O’Reilly, Tim. What Is Web 2.0: Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software. ​International Journal of Digital Economics No. 65 (March 2007): pp. 17-37.
The task of providing news and information online is a double-edged sword. The aim to provide quick and short news articles often hampers the quality of content and could create a biased opinion among consumers. The paper cited above discusses the business models of successful online platforms and also provides great programming models. This paper summarizes the reasons for the success of business strategies of companies such as Flickr and Amazon. It also discusses possible lightweight programming models to develop such websites or applications.
The paper is an amalgamation of business and technological standpoints. It is hence ideal for someone interested in the varied domains of web development, programming, business analysis or design of digital content. For instance, the paper compares the concepts of old web development with new ideas that have taken their place. It also provides an in-depth view of the various domains discussed. Due to a variety of subject matters handled intricately in this paper, it will be a fitting end to the course on Digital Media.