Page 11 - Beyond COVID-19

Future of Journalism

n the online colloquium, we discussed there will still be reporters around the world cate with friends physically. Virtual learning
Ithe impact of COVID-19 on our lives as providing updated news to the general definitely has its limitations.
students and the future of journalism. public. Yet, as news consumers, we should
be careful of what news we are reading, and 3. Is there any hobbies or habits you
There were three major discussion ques- how we should consume it. will carry on, even after COVID-19 ends?
tions: During the pandemic, we have all devel-
2. What are the goods and bads of oped habits of wearing mask and washing
1. Will journalism platform fully move COVID-19? our hands. Thanks to these habits, some
online? One good thing about COVID-19 is that students said they may have a lower chance
Many students believe online media we get to make new friends from different of getting sick. Meanwhile, as gyms are
platforms will continue to grow and thrive, cultural backgrounds through the Internet. closed, some students become used to
dominating the media industry in the near Before the pandemic, students would nor- working out at home. Some students have
future. In view of the power and influence of mally hang out with people from similar ra- developed hobbies such as cooking or doing
online media, we should be aware and re- cial backgrounds or people they have known housework, which somehow changed their
sponsible for what we post, read, and share within their community. However, after the personalities. Many suggested that they
with people through the platforms. outbreak, we have a chance to be connected became more responsible with what they
with people who are physically far away are doing.
A question about the future of journalism, from us through Zoom meetings. This allows
as COVID-19 persists, was raised during us to go global and be more open-minded
the discussion. Students discussed whether about other cultures.
fewer people would join the journalism in-
dustry as reporters face pay cuts and layoffs Yet, the lack of human interactions during
amid COVID-19. After rounds of sharing, we COVID-19 is making our lives difficult. De-
came up with an answer that there would spite advancement in media and technology
not be much change in the industry. In fact, that allows students to take online classes
online media platforms have made sharing at home, they prefer having face-to-face
of news on the Internet possible. We believe classes and meetings to meet and communi- By Sarah Ryou

Students Long for Physical Communication

loss of informal discussion is inevitable College students may need to find some
A in online classes. People have been new ways to compensate for the loss of
talking about how communication technol- informal discussion and socialisation.
ogy has brought people closer for decades.
But remote teaching technology is still not By Alina Chen
enough to ensure quality education during
the pandemic.

Students lose the chance of having physi-
cal communication in class break. Professors
end zoom meeting once a lecture is finished.
The online discussion is not so smooth as
before. Sometimes it seems that students
just present what they have prepared before
the class to get participation points, but
not by responding or communicating with
others.

In discussion rooms, many students stay
silent. One of the possible reasons is that
performance in group discussion is not
counted in final grading.
Pandemic alienates people and reduces
interaction between people. It is hard to find
joy of communication.

COVID-19 wears on, and it is hard to say
when or whether it will end. It may become
a common disease like flu. But nobody Students are taking an online class on Zoom.
knows how long it will take for humans to
live with it ‘peacefully’.