Public Sphere Citizenship in the Age of Internet

Question: Discuss about thePublic Spherefor Citizenship in the Age of Internet. Answer: Introduction: Citizenship is a phenomenon that happens to be synonymous with the concept of statesmanship and national identities. Citizens of nations are formed with the help of certain very complex dynamics. Public opinion is one of the major elements that contributes to the formation of citizenship and is also a product of citizenship itself. Public opinion is something that is formed with the help of the popular media. In the earlier times before the advent of the internet, the newspapers were the most popular media through which current affairs did circulate amongst the citizens of the various nations and also helped in the formation of the identity of citizenship,. However with the advent of the internet and its related to phenomenon, the popularity of newspapers have undergone a major decline. This is a fact that is much evident from the slow decline in the rate of sale of the newspapers. In this discussion we shall examine the effects of internet and its related media on the way current affairs information are circulated amongst the people of the world and its impact on the phenomenon of citizenship(Papacharissi). Discussion: The media has undergone a huge change with the advent of the finer quality technology. In this context we see that more refine technology in the field of journalism has added a new edge to the profession. In the current times we see that with the help of technology the grasp and the clutches of journalism has become all the more far reaching. The quality and the genera of news happen to be far stretched. In addition to the same we see that the reach of journalism has also undergone a massive change and has expounded in a terrific manner. This can be attributed just due to the elevated level of technology that is involved in the distribution of news. The advent of the internet and its allied channels has led to news and journalism becoming all the more far reaching. It can be said without a doubt that just as the advent and the arrival of the internet and the web pages most have affected the sale rate and the easiness of the newspapers, it has also revolutionised the whole picture o c urrent affairs. News ion the present era is facility that is juts a click away from the readers. Again people no longer need to buy extra newspapers to get the updated news. It is available over the internet and can be very easily accessed over the mobile phones(Dahlgren). The quality of the media has also undergone massive change. In the earlier times the genres that were touched by the media were very restricted. This has undergone a massive transformation in the current times. The readers now can take look at various types of news and events that is occurring in the most distant parts of the world. In addition we see that news in the current times happens to be all the more extensive. Different topics are included within the realm of news. On one hand id we get a glimpse into the political current affairs, side by side we also get a good insight into the fashion trends that are continuing in the various parts of the world. Once again we see that cinema again has attained a global character, where interests are no longer restrained to only national subjects. Cross over films is a very common thing in the current times. The various topics that are being included into media are quite overwhelming. This is in fact one of the major catalysts that is help ing in the formation of the public opinion. In fact the current character of the modern citizens is greatly due to the influence of the media(Loader). Summation: A final summation of the discussion shall re veal the fact that the media in the current times do create a huge impact and influence on the global citizens. The global citizens are acquiring their character from the influences of the media. In alignment to which we find that technology has provided a huge boost to the phenomenon of media and that media has really transformed its dimensions in the current era. Thanks to the redefined reach of modern technology. The internet has truly helped in the process. It is through the services of the internet that news has become a far reaching phenomenon that can touch over different elements of the global society. The common man is more engaged in the whole process. References: Dahlgren, Peter. The Internet, Public Spheres, and Political Communication: Dispersion and Deliberation; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10584600590933160. Political Communication 22 (2005): 147-162. Loader, Brian D. A Transnational Public Sphere for a Digital Generation? 15 August 2014. 1 November 2016 https://www.e-ir.info/2014/08/15/a-transnational-public-sphere-for-a-digital-generation/. Papacharissi, Zizi. The Virtual Sphere 2.0: The Internet, the Public Sphere and beyond . 2008. 1 November 2016 https://www.ciberdemocracia.net/victorsampedro/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Papacharissi-The-Virtual-Sphere-Revisited-Handbook.pdf.