MCI Media Hub hosted the insightful MCI Media Viability Talks that took place in Kansanga under the theme Media Innovation, “Information for Public Good” while taking a deep dive into how media startups can leverage technology to advance themselves. The event was graced by different innovators that are running platforms and producing news and content that is relevant to the public well-being.
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The event provided an opportunity for innovators to share their stories, storytelling techniques, difficulties, and more with the audience. More importantly, they were able to share information regarding media innovations that they have successfully implemented like podcasts, YouTube channels, websites and more.
Change is at the heart of innovation. The media industry’s products and services are constantly evolving. Media creation and distribution techniques are evolving. The media’s ownership and funding are shifting. The user’s role is evolving. And our perceptions of media are shifting.
Ways how media startups can leverage technology is through social media
Today, technology has influenced how and where information is shared. It is impossible to discuss media and the ways societies communicate without addressing the fast-moving pace of technology change. Advancements in technology have influenced every aspect of our lives today.
Social media
One of the ways on how media startups can leverage technology is through the use of social media. There has been a shift away from newspapers as a source of information as people prefer to utilise digital platforms to get their news. As a way to cope, newspapers are shifting online in an attempt to remain relevant. It is hard to tell what impact new media platforms will have on the way we receive and process information.
Social media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter have become one of the most popular ways for individuals to get real-time information. These forums have also pushed people to express themselves more clearly and share their perspectives on crucial matters.
Patricia Kigula, the founder of Black No Sugar on YouTube created this channel to address the issue of women’s underrepresentation in the media by creating a forum for them to express themselves. She stated that one crucial aspect of increasing the number of followers as you share stories across various platforms is to be constant in providing material and to listen carefully to your audience in order to increase their numbers.
There are stories that are not reported by the mainstream media on a regular basis, implying a gap in storytelling. StoryTeld is a media startup that has taken it upon itself to share stories that don’t make it into the mainstream media but are still meaningful.
By utilizing a number of different social media platforms, Songa Stone of StoryTeld explains that his goal is to reach out to people through the most flexible and convenient means citing a shift away from watching TVs and reading newspapers as more people have grown to rely on social media today.
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