Throughout modern history, the news media has experienced, and then overcome, various crises. When television first appeared, most people worried that newspapers would soon go out of business. And when national newspapers captured the local markets, regional newspapers quickly fell into crisis.
Nowadays, even sky wave broadcasting is facing difficulties; especially as new media such as the internet, news blogs, cable, satellite broadcasting and UCC (User Created Contents) develop. In such circumstances, our university media is also under threat. What is noticeable about this trend is that the old media, which was the primary forum for Korean public opinion in the 1980s, is putting up a dogged fight in spite of the aforementioned pressures. It is in this atmosphere that solution seeking discussions are underway.
This societal media crisis is also reflected in our universities. There are many solutions being proffered to combat this problem. Some universities have even experimented with the idea of diversifying their news information service; for example, utilizing other media to support the old kinds. But there is an inherent stubbornness at trying out new ways. Dongguk University (DU) is no exception to this rule.
Three weeks ago, the chiefs of Dongguk University Broadcasting System (DUBS) and Dongguk University Press (Dongdaeshinmun), along with the school paper and the Dongguk Post, held a joint forum. We collectively discussed the crisis affecting us; agonized over what a good solution might be. According to their lights, each institution has vowed to make themselves more visible to university students. In DUBS’s case, they are endeavoring to broadcast interactive programs for donggukians while, at the same time, produce content which attracts public attention. Delivering DU news to donggukians as well as its alumnus is the aim of Dongdaeshinmun. To consolidate this approach, the press will create an online service which everyone can access.
The Post has also made effort to increase its English magazine readership. We want students to read the magazine and newspaper as a news and entertainment source in the same way, for instance, that we listen to the radio, or watch a movie. For this purpose, the Post introduced the column, “World Wide Donggukians,” to keep in step with the growing number of students wanting to attend foreign universities on an exchange scholarship. In addition, we are covering the experiences of foreign students in DU in the column “Essay from a Foreign Students.” We do this in order to furnish information about DU for foreign students on our campus. In short, if we want our particular media to survive and thrive, a broader approach is needed to encompass this rapidly changing society.
Kwak Gyu-ryeong, Editor-in-Chief