Panos Day 2: Shape up or shut down

Patan Durbar, the former king's palace complex

Talk about multimedia and you usually tend to believe it is a combination of text, images, graphics, audio and video. In fact, it is more than likely you feel that is the order in which the media are supposed to have evolved. But think again. Humans first began to communicate using gestures ie visuals. This evolved to audio (sounds). Much later, symbols or images were used to communicate, once tools for etching were devised. The last communication mode to evolve was text. This should give us an inkling of what is the “preferred” communication media for humans.


And again, if we think about it, visuals (video and images) are an extension of the eyes, audio, an extension of the ears. But when it comes to text, there is no direct extension in the human body. This is a clear indicator that visuals and audio are the most natural means of human communication. And yet the over-emphasis on text as a primary media for communication is extraordinary.


Research has it that we retain 20% of what we see, 30% of what we hear, 50% of what we see and hear and a staggering 80% of what we see, hear and DO simultaneously. Thus the position of multimedia with its use of various senses along with interactivity becomes apparent as a powerful means of communication.

These were some of the issues discussed on day 2 of the Panos multimedia workshop that saw a continuation of the debate on the effectiveness of blogs as viable alternatives in new media.


We also talked about a Dutch Radio research carried out in Europe that reflected the changes taking place in media consumption patterns in the west. With declining percentage in print publication titles combining with the decrease in print reading patterns in Europe (and the US), it appears the writing is on the wall for publishers: “Shape up or shut down.”



Of course it would be some while before publishers begin to feel the heat here in South Asia, but it is undeniable that the era of convergence is upon us. Devices are converging (computers double up as televisions, radios and even telephones). Then there is the media convergence: news on mobile devices, television programmes on computers, music on mobile phones...the list is endless.


So how do media houses brace for the impending changes? Undoubtedly, it has to do with utilising technology to truly democratise the flow of news and information, making news delivery/consumption an interactive process. And it is the proper utilisation of the internet that will offer them (traditional media) a ray of hope.

PS: Enjoy images from our walk to Patan Durbar Square, the UNESCO World Heritage site, near where we live.