The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji has described Online Media as the future of the media across the globe.
Ayantunji made this known in Osogbo while feeding questions on an online TV show, Insightful Moment with Jare Tiamiyu on Insight Links TV.
Ayantunji, who explained how Digital Media Evolution was predicted in 1920 and the current reality of positively disrupting the media space at all levels, enjoined journalists to acquire necessary skills that will help them in the practice of 21st journalism.
He added that technological advancement, which is the pilot of the online media, has made information readily available to consumers at their comfort zones.
“What we’re experiencing is not a new phenomenon. It has been long predicted for centuries and every journalist must embrace the reality. Online Media has come to stay.
“Specifically in 1962, a scholar, Marshall McLuhan propounded a theory of technological determinism which centered on how the world will become a mediated global village in the future. Moreso, it’s not peculiar to the media, virtually every sector is affected now.
“As we speak today, virtually all radio stations, television stations stream online. All newspapers have their online presence. This is because everyone has come to reality that online media is the future.
The NUJ Chairman admonished media practitioners to ensure they get necessary skills that will help project their to the limelight, cautioning the online media practitioners to ensure to be ready to work and not doing “copy and paste”.
“Some online platforms are doing well both in Osun and in the country. Some are not only gaining the confidence of Nigerians, but gathering support across the globe because of their reliability and quality contents,” Ayantunji said.