Journalism is that part of social activity which is concerned with the dissemination of news and views about the society. Modern journalism feeds five departments of mass communication-(1) Newspapers and Periodicals, (2) Radio, (3) Television, (4) Films, and (5) Advertising.
In modern societies, journalism has become the media of mass education providing supplementary education to students at all stages and to the general masses-educated and uneducated.
All activities concerned with the communication of mass media is not journalism but the part of that activity involving writing, preparation and production of the communication messages is journalism. Thus, essentially journalists are writers, authors, reporters, correspondents, editors, sub-editors, interviewers, story writers, script writers, scenario editors and allied specialists.
The mass media are capable of reaching vast widespread audiences, thanks to fast’ moving newspapers, radio broadcasts, TV telecasts and the celluloid films. A single broadcasting network today can reach millions of people at the same time.
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The world stands at the threshold of new communication systems which enable large number of citizens to regularly and effectively interact with each ‘other.
To make full use of the interactive information systems made possible by the computer technology, citizens can remain so well informed that they will be able to perform their duty adequately and efficiently and accelerate the process of development in different social fields.
Modern communication systems reflect the philosophy and achievements of society in all spheres by fast flow and pave the way for the homogeneity of culture-not only within its geographical unit but also beyond.
Journalism and Education
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With the mass communication at its disposal, the journalist can spread literacy so that citizens can be taught the skills needed for their respective fields of activity. The basic need of a developing country is literacy.
Literacy is a must if a nation has to aspire for wide participation of all citizens in nation building activities of different sort. With the help of a crash programme in teaching adults to read and an expansion of institutions until every child has a school to attend, journalists are trying the audio-visual media to leap over the barriers of illiteracy and provide knowledge and awareness about social problems to citizens.
Journalism is the publication of news and views on various aspects of human activities in newspapers and periodicals. In a broader sense, the functions of journalism are to convey national policies to the public, and to keep the Government, at Local State and Central levels, informed of public needs.
It also brings to the notice of the Government public reaction to Government policies and decisions. In addition, it keeps the public and the Government informed of events and happenings at home and abroad.
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On the one hand it performs the utilitarian purpose of information and on the other it provides entertainment to its readers by publishing short stories, poems, sports, cinema features, etc. A clever journalist by his penmanship creates interest in day-to-day political happenings. He presents the drab events and incidents in an artistic way, which provides the reader information as well as entertainment.
In modern times, the horizon of journalism has widened and it has transcended the limits of mere reporting of political and economic news. As it is a vehicle of mass communications, it is performing the function of social intercourse between the people having more or less identical interests.
Hence we find literary, political, economic and scientific magazines as also household or industrial magazines, which cater to the interests of their respective readers.