Broadcasting at home has just become so much fun off late - the digitalisation process, multi-media, new media, social media and all the innovation of this world in our industry.
Our audiences are now able to directly interact with our producers/presenters, during live shows - giving feedback real time - and vice versa - they can text - if one of their goats has gone missing - and the message can be announced in no time - actually getting feedback right there that the goat was seen grazing somewhere near the next village ... it's a changing world in broadcasting and media in general
It's really up to as a professional journalists to enjoy our trade - and make maximum use of it.
Live broadcasting is the trend in the world - we have to beam most if not all key events as they happen, we have to be there during the breaking news - everything is so possible nowadays, There is no more the issue of waiting for the report on the hour, you get it right there e.g. President-Elect's recent media conferences. That's what international broadcasters are doing - if President Obama is to speak - CNN and other broadcasters air that on the spot - and at the level where we are now, there is no way we delay the key message to our audience (s)
If you do not broadcast live, you can stream your content or you can tweet or face book it - you can vlog and you can blog, you can instagram and you can YouTube, and yeah - use various new media platforms online - event print media can now go live via various web-opportunities brought about by the internet revolution. We have to be first with the news - but mot importantly, with have to be first with accurate, credible and reliable news. We have to keep on gate-keeping to ensure that our message is authentic and not misrepresenting the facts or confusing the audience (s). Professionalism, remains key.
I think it was time professional broadcasters and journalists jealously guard this unique profession as Doctors and Lawyers would do with theirs. No one should be allowed to dilute the profession, but rather growth it and raise it to the highest level. Namibia's win for Press Freedom in Africa rings a loud bell though - and credit goes to all who made that possible including the Namibian media industry as key role players.
There is so much we can do nowadays - the various platforms - TV, Radio, Mobile and Print - is just driving the industry crazy. Citizen Journalism and yeah - you mention it - it's all here right in our hand-palms on your smart phone and all - your radio services at home are not on the same NBC decoder where you find your channels - isn't that just great... ? We are in an Era that continues to unfold in terms of broadcasting and media in general.
I guess all those journalists out there who had at times dropped the profession to grow in other areas can now start make a come back and once again embrace their mother or founding profession and bring all those new talents they learnt from their new jobs - it's a value -add process --- we have to remain in love with our profession and continue to inspire the Namibian Nation - look at CNN's Christiaan Amanpour, Wolf Blitzer, Candy Crawly and all those Senior Journalists there including those at other broadcasters - they are still passionately carrying the Journalism Flag high - which means - we too can do the same and carry our Namibian Broadcasting Flag very high - as long as we share knowledge with the upcoming broadcasters who are also bringing along new skills and competencies especially in the new media... while those who have been on the block can knowledge manage the both the traditional and new media..
Aren't you inspired by the developments in our industry like me?
Disclaimer
This post is authored in my private capacity, as a Namibian broadcaster and an individual. I am just appreciating the online opportunities that are available which enable me to express myself and jot down my thoughts right away.
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