The Internet as a meeting point of media

The essentials

The Internet is a global network of computer networks. Because all content can be turned into digital form (zeros and ones), the Internet can carry text, photographs, sound and video together. As a result, it has become a meeting point of all mass media: newspapers, radio, television, cinema, books and music are now available online on a single device.

Key points

• Newspapers run websites and apps with constantly updated news, videos and live blogs.
• Radio is available as web radio and podcasts that can be heard at any time.
• Television channels stream live and offer programmes on demand.
• Films and series are released on OTT (over-the-top) streaming platforms directly over the Internet.
• Books and magazines appear as e-books and digital editions.
• Multimedia: one story can combine text, photos, audio, video and interactive graphics.
• Hypertext and hyperlinks connect content across sites.
• Interactivity: readers comment, share and respond instantly.
• Content is available anytime, anywhere, unlike fixed broadcast schedules.

Exam tips

Give concrete examples of each traditional medium's online form. Questions may ask why digitisation made this meeting of media possible.

Common mistakes

The Internet does not simply replace old media; it carries and transforms them. Newspapers, radio and TV continue, often reaching larger audiences online.