In the Asian Media

Media are the means by which information gets transmitted to many people at one time.  The word “media” is the plural form of the word “medium” which is applied to three major categories of mass communication: broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet.  In the modern world, all the various media are available in all countries, although public participation may be limited by ease of access, availability of providers and cost. 

The most common forms of broadcast media include television, radio, telephone, and webcast.  Everyone is familiar with news broadcasts on television and radio.  Even in remote areas far from media centers, most people have regular access to news of current affairs through their radios and televisions.  Television and radio broadcasts can reach thousands, even millions, of people at one time.  The telephone is another form of broadcast media.  Usually, the telephone is used by one person to communicate with another person.  However, modern phones allow information to be transmitted through messaging or conference calls that can reach many people at the same time.  Webcasts are a new form of broadcasting where television or radio programs are transmitted through the Internet.  Also, original and unique programs can be produced specifically for Internet broadcast.  Webcasts can reach millions of people and are often archived so that they can be accessed on demand.

Publishing is another universally used method for transmitting information to many people.  Common forms of publishing media include: books, newspapers, magazines, recordings, and posters.  Originally, publishing referred to a print medium such as books. Words are printed on paper and the printed paper is distributed to people who read it.  It is not only a way to transmit information, but the information remains for as long as the paper remains and can be held over long periods of time.  Nowadays, publishing has been expanded to include electronic media, such as: films, audio recordings, computer software, and slide presentations.  As is the area of broadcast media, publishing has also moved to the Internet.  Books, newspapers, and magazines are often published on the internet. In fact, every conceivable form of information is published in the endless pages and sites of the World Wide Web.

The Internet is the world’s newest form of mass communication.  As can be seen in the sections on broadcast media and publishing media, both of those older categories have already been adapting to the possibilities presented by the new one, the Internet.  The Internet not only provides a new way for the older media to use, but creates new ways for people to talk to each other that were not imagined before.  Social media, for example, has opened entirely new ways for people to communicate.  Facebook, YouTube, Skype, Twitter, Instagram and others, have given people almost unlimited opportunities to share information around the world.  In another area, Google has created virtual tours of Earth, space and important world landmarks.  For instance, Google has created a virtual tour of Angkor Wat which enables people anywhere in the world to wander around the famous Cambodian temple complex as if they were actually there.

Media are important for people in Asia and around the world.  It is through the various media that people learn what is going on in their own countries and know what is going on in other parts of the world.  Social media is also becoming the most important tool for people to know what is going on with their friends, family and colleagues.  Although the there are many ways in which information is conveyed in the world, we can be sure that even more are waiting for us in the future.