Cross-platform technologies

The importance of cross-platform technologies in online journalism.

Sema Fonkem 14-08-2022

Cross-platform journalism is the publishing of news articles or stories in more than one news platform. For example, publishing the same news story via social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Online video sharing platform such as Youtube and also the publication of news online on customized websites and blogs such wordpress.com. Cross-platform technologies have greatly improve the way news is shared according to how the readers would prefer to find their news. By posting news online, readers are giving multiple choices on how to get their news and this is an easy form of journalism.

Online journalism is now the new norm and has proven to be important as news can easily be published all round the clock compared to traditional print media journalism era when news had to be researched, written, edited, printed and distributed. During the Print media era, readers had to wait for news to be distributed and this this took more time.

A woman reading her news on her phone while she appears to be selling newspapers
Bay Ismoyo | AFP | Getty Images

A close look at the cross-platform technologies makes it more appealing in the sense that the system allows audio, videos, photographs and written text to be shared at the same time on multiple platforms such as a news website and twitter. When publishing a news story online, a Search Engine Optimisation is available which gives the publisher the opportunity to use relevant keywords or phrases that will help their story pop up if an internet user was searching a similar story online via Google and related search engines. For instance if a reader was to search Cross-platform technologies on Google and you had used that for your keyword, your publications on different online platforms such as your  personal website or Youtube channel or blog or twitter account will likely pop up. Google also allow publishers to create display ads or marketing campaigns which are shared across all Google partner sites so readers can easily find it.

Accessing online news has also been made very easy for readers because of the improvement of cellphone technology. Smartphones have been created that can be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data. This same improvement has also provided journalists with sophisticated camera phones which they can use to take good photographs and videos and also use their smart phone note apps to write and edit news articles and publish them immediately on their various online platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and twitter or a blog. One of the best things with cross-platform technologies is that it is possible to link your website and all your social media accounts. For example, when you publish your news article teaser on twitter or on your Instagram story, you can provide a link that takes your readers to your website or blog to read the full article. You can also add a subscribe button to your website which readers can use to provide an email address where they can receive a notification each time you publish something new.

A woman reads her news on the internet. Image by Patrick Kovarik | AFP | Getty Images

Online journalism has made news reading more convenient. Now-a-days news can be accessed online by anyone from any part of the world instantly when the news has been published unlike the days of print media when people had to wait and news was limited to a country or specific region where the newspaper was distributed. Online journalism satisfies timeliness and immediacy. More so, with online journalism, it is also easy to verify facts from different credible online sources. The availability of cross-platform technologies has also created an opportunity for freelance and independent journalists to become self-employed through blogging and by having their blogs backed by commercial companies or individuals who like to promote their products online on blog spaces. Online Journalism is more cost effective as fewer staff members are required for the publishing process.

More read/Source List

Mequoda Publishing Network MULTIPLATFORM PUBLISHING STRATEGY https://www.mequoda.com/articles/multiplatform-publishing-strategy/multi-platform-journalism-new-normal/

UKESSAYS Impact of Technology on Journalism and the Production of News https://www.ukessays.com/essays/journalism/impact-of-technology-on-journalism-and-the-production-of-news-5981.php

CNBC IOT: POWERING THE DIGITAL ECONOMY Five technological innovations that have revolutionized the media https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/07/five-technological-innovations-that-have-revolutionized-the-media.html