August
2008
New Media versus Old
When looking for news updates or information on a particular topic it’s more often then not that I turn to the internet. As mentioned in my previous blogs convenience is why so many utilize the internet for so many different purposes, from buying Saturday nights outfit to paying bills.
Just because the internet provides free information doesn’t mean that we’re not paying. How many times have I used MSN for news content and been swayed by adverts (don’t all judge now just because I’m not reading The Age or CNN live, what can I say I enjoy my gossip sites). Honestly, a few weeks ago I even bought an anti-wrinkle cream. Who needs anti-wrinkle cream at 22, obviously this young online consumer?
Advertising on the internet is becoming ever so popular with an increasing shift from print adverts to online. Top one hundred advertisers shifted $1 billion to the web last year at the expensive of TV and newspapers. Guess who’s cashing in, all the newspaper giants who are supposedly being generous enough to provide FREE content and information online.
The Herald Sun online had two main adverts on their home page from two large players in the consumer market. As I clicked on the confidential section (gossip again I know) to view a story, a full sized advert popped up on my screen before I could read the content that I was ever so desperate to analyse. The advert it self was targeted at the techno savvy, young female consumer. Now try and tell me The Herald Sun isn’t making money from its online stories?
I laugh at the very thought that we can actually believe that old media is losing out with the decline of newspaper sales when new media (the ever so friendly information free provider) is cashing in with tailored adverts that can reach specific audiences more effectively then ever before. Therefore companies are paying top dollar to have their advert appear online.
Traditional print and broadcast outlets have their own websites, and have converged with technology, but they are not posting free information just generating more money. Media is a business that needs to survive just like every other company. Free information comes with a price.
