Blogging: An Effective Medium for Communicating and Discussing Latest News Amongst Youth of Karachi

Abstract

In today’s digital and fast progressing world where all aspects of life are fast becoming dependent upon technology and telecommunication, it is imperative that the field of journalism too evolves to include such developments. Therefore, digital journalism i.e. communicating along with discussing news and events round the globe through social networking websites, e-papers together with forums, Instagram, and blogging is gradually becoming the need of the day. The exponential growth in mobile phone users utilizing broadband services (40% in one year from 2012 to 2013 (Global mobile statistics 2013: Home, 2013)) and internet users (566.4% in 12 years from 2000 to 2012 (World Stats: Internet World Stats, 2013)) is a witness to this need. However, considering the gaining importance of digital journalism in Pakistan, the researcher was faced with a dearth of quality research in this area in Pakistan. Detailed research of all medium and their significance amongst all age groups could not be made the subject of a short research paper like this one. Therefore, this researcher selected the medium of blogging and its effectiveness in the dissipation of news amongst the youth of Karachi to quantify the otherwise visible increase in its usage. Due to the large population size, random sampling was used for the determination of research participants. A questionnaire designed with mainly close- ended questions was circulated among the students of universities and higher education institutes of Karachi. The main focus of the research was to conclude the importance that the youth attach to blogging as the upcoming norm of journalism. Also, it was used to deduce whether it is possible that news ranging from current political events to economic upheavals and entertainment may all end up being broken, distributed and discussed through blogs in the future. The data analysis was summed up under the headings of blogs as a means of accurate and effective transmission of news, the types of news that blogs are being used for by youth and the future of blogs.

Keywords: Digital Journalism, Blogging, Karachi Youth, News, Communication