Describing Communication in the Global Information Age (Essay Sample)

Communication in the Global Information Age Student’s name University Affiliation Communication in the Global Information Age Within the last half part of the 20th century, there has been rapid evolving regarding how communication takes place with respect to the fast evolving technological advancement. Mass communication first came into existence with the invention of the printing press in the early 1440s by Johannes Gutenberg (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). Given the illiteracy at that point and lack of rules governing the spread of information, most authorities strictly restricted mass media printing and dissemination of information for many centuries (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). It is only during the later parts of the 1920s that radio stations came into existence reviving mass communication again (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). This was facilitated by the broadcast and coming into being of many media houses which enhanced the increased pace at which information could be disseminated. It is widely accepted that what accelerated communication in the global information age was the discovery of the microprocessor and subsequent development of the internet browser in the early parts of the 1990s (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). The advent of the internet is what defines the advancement there is in the global information today. The invaluable benefits of the global information age can never be overlooked. The cost of doing business and communication has greatly reduced. Days when businesses had to invest a lot in sending their task force for seminars and training to other countries are long gone. International seminars and conferences can be done online through live online video streaming at different locations geographically separated. The high costs of international calls and sending letters is something of the past (‘WDM Group’, 2012). However, technology has its negative implications. Apart from millions of employees working in postal offices losing their jobs, the information relayed through the media in this global age of communication lacks proper co-ordination especially if it comes from the authority. The result is a lack of effectiveness and confusion, it will convey. According to Silva (2011), as global communication takes new dimensions in embracing the new technological advancements, governments and business people may find themselves sending confusing messages across the globe on the issues affecting their communities. He asserts that governments find themselves faced with a new form of what he terms as a cute ‘vulnerability’. With the advent of social media, the governments find their legitimacy and authority challenged (Silva, 2011). Silva (2011), cites an example of what happened in Japan during the 2011 earthquake, a miscommunication that surrounded the aftermath of the catastrophe. The differing news on the amounts and levels of the resulting power plant destruction radiation, were a result of lack of proper and well communication demonstrated by the authority on the media platform (Silva, 2011).Apart from being a global information age sending confusing messages, the sources of the information relayed lack appropriate reliability to the shallow presentation it portrays (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). The online article explains that the audience is exposed to different multiple sources of information presenting the same information. The main problem is the lack of proper mechanisms to help in comprehending the information (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). People will rarely pay attention to lengthy information due to lack of time while brief summaries of news do not prove credible and convincing (‘Whit’s End’, 2011). The problem is more pronounced in the government communication with its citizens on im...