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Temporal issues, audience feedback, information quality/background information/information availability, user adaptability, and research parameters are some of the advantages of hypertext.

In terms of user adaptability, online news provides the entire experience of a situation. For instance, reading a newspaper, the journalist assumes an informed reader, therefore, all facts of the story - from previous articles, images - are not included in up to date coverage.

Online news transcends time at the touch of a button with available archives of previous published information. Article notation and hypertext also aide the reader in providing essential background information integral to understanding a story/feature.

Online news provides information as a research weapon for an uninformed reader as well as other researchers. This includes search engines - Reuters, archives - articles and images, advanced searches and comprehensive background information - linkage to external sites: homepages, organizations, specialized journals, other news sources.

A parallel distribution also occurs, where readers get the newspaper as well as online updates and article abstracts through email and browsing online, however, online distribution far surpasses print by the sheer vastness of the Internet.

Online news is also very user friendly in temporal relations. The Internet provides users with up to the minute information. The story unfolds before the audience’s eyes in real time, at their fingertips.

With online journalism, information is posted hourly/in minutes and allows the reader to be more informed, unlike dailies which take a much longer time to get the information to the public.

The extent of news coverage as well as the amount of information presented is quite substantial online in comparison to print. As mentioned, with archives and “back issues” available, the reader has more flexibility and information at their fingertips. However, journalists are free of print’s space limitations and layout.

In terms of organization, online news is free of conventional segmentation found in dailies, where article placement is dependent on editorial and journalistic decisions. Instead, online newspapers and articles are grouped with other issues, according to subjects and theme sections.

Online newspapers reduce printing and distribution costs which prove more economical to the user and the provider. Information is provided in terms of subscriptions quicker and more efficiently than in print, and more options are available to get information out and available to readers. This leads to more target marketing strategies due to electronic delivery.

Finally, the ecological benefits out weight that of print, and greatly provides an alternate in the future to using trees and expending paper. Ecological and immediacy benefits, therefore, help make the Internet the perfect medium of communicating news and information.

However, there are disadvantages to this online medium as well.

References

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Publications
http:/nml.ru.ac.za/carr/~hutton/adv.html
http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resource/exp-lang/frontpage.html

http://WWW.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue5_1/kenney/index.html# author, more broadly states that the Internet provides a decentralization of communication which allows for vast accessibility, high interactivity - one of the major goals and characteristics of the Internet, low censorship as well as expediently promotes a two way flow of communication - in real time/forums/chat rooms/email journalists.

http://diplo.diplomacy.edu/edu/info/doc/usip-info-673.htm maintains that online newspapers is especially suited for individuals in the political realm or simply those who want to be informed about news internationally because the availability of international news online is “important for improving diplomatic skill.”

www.well.com/user/mmcadams/online.newspapers.html a site by professor of Journalism at Florida University cites theorist Vannevar Bush who defines the Internet user’s practice as “trailblazing” which is the path the reader takes (the trail) through online archives and hyperlinks (jumping from site to site like switching channels on television). McAdams explains the techniques for converting print newspapers to hypertext on her site. She stipulates the similarities for both mediums to sustain 2 dimensional elements such as layout, colour, use of images, style of prose, typography, interface and above all stresses simplicity. For instance, online newspapers need to stay true to certain formats that make print newspapers so successful. Formats such as indexes, organization techniques, relevance of information, designs which promote ease of reading, and a user friendly interface which makes the reader more comfortable and familiar with the medium.