Using platforms

I recently concluded my students' work on broadcast production with a screening. They tackled themes of gender and history to make it fitting as June was Pride month and also had Independence Day. I was amazed at how video and audio coupled with other elements such as proper timing, precision, graphics, and all the works could actually communicate a message to a specific audience. It is not just one sense to fulfill, but everything that makes it whole. While we were watching their works on the big screen, I came to realize the power of storytelling through the new platforms that we have today.

I'm talking about free to use internet-based platforms where everybody almost is --social media. If last week's piece was about using it wisely and applying proper etiquette, today I relegate it to its nature of being a powerful tool to shape a society. In fact, in the recent elections, communication scholars attributed the results to influence on what they see on social media. The precise use of coordinate posting with content that is easy to consume, became the perfect formula for a candidate to win.

Gone are the days of television making waves in setting the norm for a culture or looking for the “what's in” section in the newspaper. Everything is now available at the tip of one's finger. Individuals with a certain agenda know how to go about the algorithm so that their materials always come first on the feed and elsewhere that the user is in. It is a tricky area to learn but one that is worth the investment.

But there are also negative uses of these platforms. As they are free, this means everyone may have access to it. The gatekeeping function is disregarded and regulation has to be made by the producers themselves. This may also foster the bandwagon effect, where one's choices are persuaded by what others are doing or saying. There is the concept of having celebrities on the internet despite their simple life. What I see here is that content is always key.

The heart of a person whose main goal is to create public opinion as those involved in journalism, must be anchored on good storytelling. In broadcast, we use visual storytelling so much which even includes enticing the auditory sensor. It is a full blown experience. These platforms are merely replications of the traditional ones that we know of, executed in a more orderly and less strenuous manner.

Now that the next generation are very well-versed with technology and these new platforms, the battle cry now is to use this power wisely. The power of a producer or content-creator is so huge and so is its reach. There is a responsibility factor attached to it that they should always think twice before posting anything, for that matter. While educators continue to instill proper literacy with new platforms, the field continues to evolve. It is a challenge now to catch up on new trends and make ways, even guidelines that it will be used properly.