Rajib Nandy
Our classroom at the Department of Communication and Journalism often feels like a tiny time machine. On one side sits a 55-year-old professor, still in love with the smell of books; in the middle stands me, a 40-year-old member of the “bridge generation,” with one hand on a book and the other scrolling through a smartphone; and in front of us, the 22-year-old “Wi-Fi generation,” taking notes on ChatGPT! Three generations, three rhythms- yet the learning beat remains the same: an unbroken melody of curiosity and knowledge.
Two decades ago, my professor taught us about Charan Shangbadik (Roving Correspondent/Journalist) Monajat Uddin, a highly respected Bangladeshi investigative and grassroots journalist, known for his detailed reporting on the socio-economic conditions of rural people. I listened in awe, imagining him as a drifting cloud over the northern skies of Bangladesh- pen in hand, heart soaked in the scent of news. Back in 2004, our classroom was purely analogue. Two decades later, the classroom has become digital, and students learn through touchscreens. The spirit of Charan Shangbadikata has now evolved into “mobile journalism,” with Facebook and new media becoming the new highways of storytelling.
Yet, the human urge to tell stories remains unchanged. Perhaps the medium has changed, but the restless spirit of Monajat Uddin’s journalism lives on- now reframed through the lenses of mobiles.
New media today is not just about technology; it is about transformation. It is reshaping how society communicates, how politics operates, and how democracy functions. Social media platforms have turned passive consumers into active participants. Anyone can now post a photo, video, or opinion that reaches millions without the mediation of traditional gatekeepers.
Over a decade ago, Professor Mohammad Sahid Ullah anticipated this transition, characterising journalism’s evolution as a move from a “technology-less” model to a “technology-plus” era. He warned, in one of his reports published in 2012, that journalism education in South Asia was failing to adapt to digital tools and broadcasting technologies.
At that time, Facebook was emerging as a global platform, yet most university journalism curricula remained anchored in print and broadcast traditions. Within a few years, Facebook evolved from a social networking site into a dynamic news ecosystem. The rise of mobile journalism (MoJo), citizen reporting, and digital activism were natural outcomes of this technology-plus transformation.
In this sense, Professor Ullah’s early warning about journalism’s slow adaptation became even more relevant in the era of Facebook. The platform not only spreads information but also fosters real-time interaction, source discovery, and audience engagement. It has redefined both journalistic practice and pedagogy, showing that the future of journalism depends on digital skills and technological literacy.
From a communication perspective, this shift reflects what Participatory Media Theory suggests- users are no longer just audiences but active producers, critics, and collaborators. In Bangladesh, movements such as the Shahbagh uprising, the quota reform protests, and the road safety campaign proved this vividly. Through posts of diverse types, young people transformed online spaces into arenas of protest, linking digital energy with civic action.
New media have also reconfigured agenda-setting. Traditional media may be constrained by advertisers or political pressures; social media gives ordinary users the power to define what issues matter. During the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street movements, people bypassed censorship, posting captivating live updates.
Yet new media is not entirely neutral. It amplifies both inclusion and manipulation. Not all voices reach equally far, and trolls, bots, and propaganda can distort democratic debate. As Ullah and Hossain (2013) observed, “The proliferation of mobile and internet-based communication has brought new ethical, privacy, and technological challenges, especially for young people who are constantly engaging with digital platforms.” Thus, while social media empowers, it also exposes users to misinformation, surveillance, and digital insecurity.
Bangladesh’s digital generation may remain outside formal politics, but they mobilise instantly online. During the quota reform and road safety movements, students coordinated within hours through social media platforms- proving that new media is not merely a tool of communication, but a catalyst for awareness, civic participation, and collective action.
Initially, mainstream media were hesitant. But as viral images and live streams flooded social media, public pressure forced newspapers and TV outlets to follow suit. This was participatory agenda-setting in action where citizens, not editors, decided what became news.
Environmental and civic activism, too, now follow this digital trajectory. Young activists are using Facebook and YouTube to pressure policymakers and engage the public. These online spaces have become democratic classrooms, expanding participation beyond institutional walls.
The strength of old media lies in its depth, discipline, and accountability; the strength of new media lies in its speed and reach. True journalism must integrate both.
No matter how we celebrate digital media’s triumph, we cannot ignore the analogue era. As a teacher and researcher two generations after Professor Ullah, I believe the future of journalism depends on the fusion of the old and the new. What he foresaw in 2012, calling for technological adaptation within academia, is now unfolding in practice. The bridge between analogue experience and digital innovation will define a more responsible and inclusive media culture.
Ultimately, the question is not whether we can use new media, but how we choose to use it. It is no longer just a channel for communication or entertainment. It is a medium for political consciousness, civic unity, and critical dialogue. Used wisely, it has the potential to renew democracy itself. Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms are shaping how societies think, act, and change. Democracy now extends beyond the ballot box—it lives in empowered voices and the shared energy of the networked public.
The writer is an Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism at University of Chittagong
