Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why are online news stories considered open texts with an ongoing existence?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
media convergence
In addition to functioning as a cell phone, Apple's touchscreen iPhone, released in 2007, has a built-in Web browser for viewing Internet content over wireless telephone networks and Wi-Fi connections. The iPhone also can be used as a multimedia playback device for listening to music or viewing videos.
In the context of media convergence, online news stories are considered open texts with an ongoing existence because they have moved beyond the static, closed nature of traditional print journalism.1
Unlike a physical newspaper, which is finalized once printed, digital news platforms function as portals that allow for continuous updates and interaction. This transformation is driven by several factors:1
- Interactive Features: News organizations now provide opportunities for users to comment on stories, share links to relevant material, and access archives, turning a one-way broadcast into a two-way communication process.21
- Participatory Journalism: The integration of citizen journalism and comment sections allows audiences to provide feedback, point out mistakes, and contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding a story.13
- Cross-Media Content: Journalists now provide material in various formats—such as text, video, and podcasts—that can be updated or linked to other resources, ensuring the story remains a living, evolving piece of information rather than a fixed product.1
By breaching the boundaries between producers and consumers, digital media ensures that a news story remains open to new contributions, corrections, and contextual additions long after its initial publication.13