The advent of new media comprising the use of on line media which allows people to communicate through computers using the Internet is enabling people across all divides to interact easily.

Commonly known as digital media, this new form of communication makes it easier for people who have Internet access to communicate at several levels with people of shared interests.

It allows personal expressions of ideas directly with like minded people through the use of web pages on which they can express messages they want transmitted. The media is as useful to individuals as it is to businesses in that both can promote themselves through websites or other electronically managed communication.

People could also initiate their own sites on the Internet and hence result in professional enrichment, networking and access to latest information and ideas from a wide varied resource base from the worldwide web.

It is against this background that the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) in collaboration with a programme of the School of Journalism at Rhodes University, South Africa held a three day Digital Media training for representative of media houses, Lesotho Communications Authority, and staff of the IEMS.

Addressing participants, the Director of IEMS, Dr Mokopane Moshabesha said the training came at an opportune time as today people live in volatile and socio-economic developments which need both individuals and institutions to acquire some kind of training to survive, be professional and productive.

He said it is through people’s involvement in some networking initiatives both locally, regionally and internationally that the challenges of poverty and political tensions which have contributed to the marginalization of other people can be realized.

“Relevant and innovative ideas are therefore needed to deal with these issues,” he said.

The Secretary of Highway Africa Lesotho Chapter, Mrs. ‘Maseabata Ntoanyane said they realised how little they know and how far behind they were on the effective use of Internet when compared with their colleagues from elsewhere during the Highway Africa conference.

She said this prompted them to organise this training as they thought that they might not be the only ones left behind but probably their colleagues in the institute and media are also in the similar situation.

The training will centre on the digital revolution, particularly how the Internet has powered various innovations such as blogs, social networking sites and search engines like google and yahoo.

Focus will also be on democratisation of the media with special emphasis on understanding how new media have democratised the mass media using case studies such as blogs and other platforms.

Source: LENA 14/07/2008