INFORMATION COMMUNICATION Definition and Componnts

TECHNOLOGY
DEFINITION
Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) refers to all technologies that provide
access to information through
telecommunications. This concept includes not
only the internet and computers but also
encompasses telephones, broadcasting media,
and all types of audio and video processing
and transmission systems.
IMPORTANCE OF ICT
 Transforming Communication: ICT has changed how we
communicate, making instant messaging, social media, and video
calls everyday tools for both personal and professional interaction.
 Catalyst for Economic Growth: Digital advancements and ICT are
critical for economic development, providing the backbone for e-
commerce, digital payment systems, and online services.
Supporting Education and Learning: Online resources, e-learning
platforms, and digital libraries expand educational opportunities,
making learning more accessible and adaptable.
Role in Healthcare and Governance: Telemedicine, digital health
records, and e-governance platforms are powered by ICT, which
enhances service delivery, data management, and transparency.
Driving Innovation: ICT drives new innovations, such as artificial
intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT), fostering
new solutions in business, social development, and environmental
protection.
ICT REVOLUTION
A convergence is happening in technical aspects
between computing and telecommunication, in
contents between text, images, voice and sound,
and in the ways in which information is delivered
as PCs, TVs and mobile phones become
multifunctional. Technical innovations associated
with the ongoing process of liberalization and
deregulation of markets and world backbone
networks are resulting in cheaper, faster and
easier internet access.
FORDISM VS POST FORDISM
Here are some other differences between Fordism and Post-Fordism:
Labor
In Fordism, the labor process is standardized and integrated, with advanced machine
tools. In Post-Fordism, the labor process is characterized by an international division
of labor.
Social structure
Fordism is characterized by mass media, mass transport, and mass politics. Post-
Fordism is characterized by a network society, where production is more
decentralized and flexible.
Production
In Fordism, the focus is on mass production of a single product. In Post-Fordism, the
focus is on producing diverse product lines for different consumer groups.
Technology
In Fordism, the focus is on mass production. In Post-Fordism, the focus is on flexible
production systems that use technology to respond to market demands
COMPONENTS OF ICT
Hardware: The physical devices and infrastructure that make up an ICT system. Hardware is the
tangible part of ICT and includes computers, mobile devices, networking equipment, and
peripheral devices.
Examples: Examples of ICT hardware include desktop computers, laptops, servers, smartphones,
tablets, printers, and network routers.
Importance: Hardware serves as the platform on which all ICT functions are carried out. It provides
the necessary tools for users to interact with information and enables data processing, storage,
and communication.
Software: Programs and applications that enable hardware to perform specific tasks and allow
users to interact with ICT systems effectively.
Types:
•System Software: Manages and controls hardware, providing the basic functionalities required to
operate other software. Examples include operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
•Application Software: Allows users to perform specific tasks, such as word processing, browsing the
internet, or managing databases. Examples include Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop, and
web browsers like Chrome.
Networks: The infrastructure that connects hardware devices, allowing them to communicate
and share resources.
Types:
•Local Area Networks (LANs): Cover small areas, such as a single building or campus.
•Wide Area Networks (WANs): Span large geographical areas, connecting devices across
cities, countries, or even continents.
•The Internet: A global network that connects millions of private, public, academic, business,
and government networks, enabling worldwide communication.

Data: Raw facts, figures, symbols, or other elements that are processed to provide
information. Data is the fundamental building block that enables informed decision-making
and knowledge generation within ICT.
Types
•Structured Data: Organized and stored in databases, enabling efficient retrieval and
manipulation (e.g., customer records).
•Unstructured Data: Information that doesn’t follow a predefined structure, like emails, images,
and multimedia content.
People: Users who interact with ICT systems, including IT professionals who manage
and develop ICT infrastructure and end-users who utilize these systems for personal
and professional tasks.
Roles:
•End Users: Individuals who utilize ICT applications and devices in daily life, like
students, professionals, and the general public.
•IT Professionals: Individuals responsible for the design, maintenance, and security of
ICT systems, including roles like system administrators, network engineers, and
cybersecurity experts.
People are the operators, creators, and users of ICT systems. Their skills, decisions, and
interaction with technology determine the success of ICT applications. Without skilled
users and developers, even the most advanced technology remains underutilized.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION Characteristics and Functions
TECHNOLOGY
CHARACTERISTICS OF ICT
1. Interactivity

2. Speed

3. Reliability

4. Scalability

5. Versatility

6. Data Integration

7. Automation
INTERACTIVITY IN ICT
 Interactivity in ICT refers to the system’s
ability to allow two-way communication
between users, software, and devices. This
characteristic makes ICT dynamic, enabling
users to actively engage with content,
applications, and each other.
 It allows for instant feedback, collaboration,
and adaptability, making ICT tools
responsive and enhancing the user
experience. Interactive systems adjust based
on user actions, resulting in a more tailored
and engaging experience.
Examples of Interactivity in ICT:
•Video Conferencing: Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google
Meet allow participants to engage in real-time discussions, share
presentations, and communicate through text, audio, and video.
•Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow
users to like, comment, and share content instantly, fostering a
community-driven experience.
•E-Learning Platforms: Interactive features on e-learning platforms, such
as quizzes, discussion forums, and live classes, enhance student
engagement and make learning more interactive.
•Customer Service Chats: Live chat systems and chatbots on websites
allow users to receive immediate responses to their questions, providing
a more personalized customer experience.
SPEED
 Speed in ICT refers to the quickness with
which systems process data and perform
operations. High speed enables
instantaneous data transfer, processing,
and access, allowing ICT to deliver real-
time information and immediate
responses.
 Speed enhances efficiency, productivity,
and decision-making, as it enables ICT
systems to handle large volumes of data
and user interactions almost instantly.
Key Factors Contributing to Speed in ICT:
•High-Performance Hardware: Powerful processors, increased memory,
and advanced data storage technologies (e.g., SSDs, NVMe drives)
enable ICT systems to process vast amounts of data quickly.
•High-Speed Internet: The availability of broadband and fiber-optic
internet speeds up data transmission, making real-time communication
possible.
•Optimized Software: Efficient coding and data compression techniques
enhance software performance, enabling fast data processing and
system response.
•Cloud Computing: Remote servers and cloud infrastructure allow for
rapid data access and scalable processing, helping organizations
maintain fast operations even with large data loads.
RELIABILITY
 Reliability refers to the ability of ICT systems to
perform consistently and accurately over time
without failures or interruptions. A reliable ICT
system is dependable, accessible when needed,
and capable of handling tasks under various
conditions.
 Reliability is essential for building trust, especially
for critical applications in areas like finance,
healthcare, and government. Users rely on these
systems to work correctly every time, as
interruptions or errors can lead to significant
consequences, from financial losses to
compromised safety.
Key Aspects of ICT Reliability:
•Uptime: This is the percentage of time a system is operational. High uptime
means minimal downtime, ensuring that services are available when needed.
Most reliable systems aim for 99.9% uptime or higher.
•Fault Tolerance: ICT systems are designed to handle failures without
disrupting service. Redundant components or systems (like backup servers and
failover mechanisms) help maintain operations in case of malfunctions.
•Data Integrity: Reliable systems ensure that data is stored, transmitted, and
processed without errors or corruption, maintaining the accuracy and
completeness of information.
•Error Handling and Recovery: Reliable ICT systems have mechanisms to
detect, handle, and recover from errors quickly, reducing the impact of failures
on users.
SCALABILITY
 Scalability in ICT refers to a system’s ability to
handle an increasing amount of work or
accommodate growth without compromising
performance. Scalable ICT systems can expand or
reduce resources (such as processing power, storage,
or network capacity) to meet fluctuating demands.
 Scalability is essential for adapting to changing
business needs, user demands, and market conditions.
It ensures that ICT systems can grow alongside
organizations, supporting expansion without
requiring a complete infrastructure overhaul.
Types of Scalability:
•Vertical Scalability (Scaling Up): Adding
more resources to a single server or system,
such as increasing RAM or CPU capacity.
This approach is often cost-effective for
smaller operations.
•Horizontal Scalability (Scaling Out):
Adding more servers or devices to distribute
the load across multiple machines. This
approach is common in cloud computing,
where systems can dynamically adjust
based on demand.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS
 Cost-effectiveness in ICT refers to the ability of
systems to deliver high value and performance
relative to the cost invested. It involves
maximizing productivity and efficiency while
minimizing expenses, making ICT systems an
economical choice for organizations aiming to
improve operations.
 Cost-effective ICT systems help organizations
make the most of their resources, which is critical
for sustaining growth, improving services, and
staying competitive.
Ways ICT Systems are Cost-Effective:
•Automation of Tasks: ICT systems automate repetitive tasks like data entry,
customer support, and inventory management, which reduces labor costs and
improves accuracy.
•Resource Optimization: Cloud computing and virtualization allow companies
to scale resources up or down based on demand, so they pay only for what
they use, avoiding unnecessary infrastructure costs.
•Reduced Physical Infrastructure: With ICT, organizations can store data
digitally rather than relying on physical storage, which cuts down on costs
related to office space, maintenance, and paper usage.
•Remote Work Capabilities: ICT systems support remote work, which can
reduce office expenses, travel costs, and increase productivity by enabling
employees to work from anywhere.
VERSATILITY
 Versatility in ICT refers to the ability of systems to
perform multiple functions, adapt to various
applications, and meet the needs of different users
and industries. Versatile ICT systems are flexible and
can be customized or repurposed to handle a wide
array of tasks efficiently.
 Versatile ICT systems reduce the need for multiple
specialized tools, which helps organizations save on
costs and streamline workflows. This adaptability
allows businesses and individuals to tailor ICT solutions
to meet unique requirements, often with minimal
changes.
Key Aspects of Versatile ICT Systems:
•Multi-functionality: Many ICT systems, such as smartphones and
computers, perform numerous functions like communication, data
processing, entertainment, and productivity tasks, making them highly
valuable.
•Cross-Industry Applications: ICT systems are not limited to a single
field; they can support various sectors, including education, healthcare,
finance, agriculture, and logistics, providing each industry with
specialized solutions.
•Scalability and Customization: Versatile ICT systems can scale to meet
the demands of different-sized organizations and can often be
customized to fit specific business needs.
•Interoperability: Versatile ICT systems work well with other technologies,
enabling integration with existing systems or applications, which
enhances their utility and reach.
DATA INTEGRATION
 Data Integration is the process of combining data
from multiple sources to provide a unified,
accurate, and complete view of information across
an organization. It ensures that data from various
systems, applications, and databases are
harmonized, making it accessible and usable for
analysis, reporting, and operational purposes.
 Data integration is essential for eliminating data
silos—isolated collections of data that are
inaccessible to other parts of an organization. By
integrating data, organizations achieve better
data quality, improved insights, and enhanced
decision-making.
Key Components of Data Integration:
•Data Sources: These can be internal systems (such as ERP, CRM, and HR
systems) or external sources (like social media, market data, or partner
databases) that provide raw data.
•Data Transformation: Data integration involves transforming data into
compatible formats so it can be used cohesively, regardless of its original
format. This may include cleaning data to remove duplicates or errors and
standardizing it for consistency.
•Data Warehousing: Many organizations use a data warehouse to store
integrated data. This centralized repository allows data from different sources
to be stored in one place for easy access and analysis.
•Data Synchronization: Integrated systems need to be synchronized so that
updates in one system reflect across all connected systems, maintaining data
consistency in real-time.
FUNCTIONS OF ICT
• Data Storage and Management: Storing and organizing vast amounts of
data.
• Communication: Enabling real-time and asynchronous interactions.
• Data Processing: Analyzing and manipulating data for insights.
• Automation: Streamlining repetitive tasks.
• Information Access and Retrieval: Making information accessible
anytime, anywhere.
• Entertainment: Providing platforms for digital media, games, and other
content.
THEORIES OF ICT
DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS THEORY
The Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Theory explains how new ideas,
products, or technologies spread within a society or culture. Developed
by sociologist Everett Rogers in 1962, this theory identifies patterns and
stages that individuals or groups typically follow when adopting
innovations.
DOI is widely used in ICT to analyze how quickly new technologies (such
as mobile phones, internet services, or social media platforms) are
adopted by various segments of society and what influences their
adoption rates.
Adoption Curve and Categories:
•Innovators (2.5%): These are risk-takers who are the first to adopt an innovation.
They are willing to try new technologies without relying on recommendations.
•Early Adopters (13.5%): Typically community leaders or influencers who adopt an
innovation early, influencing others to follow.
•Early Majority (34%): These are individuals who adopt new technologies after
seeing evidence of benefits from early adopters. They are practical and seek social
proof.
•Late Majority (34%): This group is skeptical and adopts only after the majority has
accepted the technology and it has proven its reliability.
•Laggards (16%): The last to adopt, often due to resistance to change or lack of
resources. Laggards typically adopt when the technology is well-established or
necessary.
The Adoption Process Stages:
•Knowledge: Learning about the existence of the technology or innovation.
•Persuasion: Forming a positive or negative attitude toward the innovation.
•Decision: Choosing to adopt or reject the innovation.
•Implementation: Actively using the innovation.
•Confirmation: Reinforcing the decision to continue using the innovation or
reject it if expectations are unmet.
TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM)
 TAM explains the factors influencing users acceptance and use of
technology. Developed by Fred Davis in 1989, TAM is essential for
understanding user attitudes toward technology and predicting
usage behavior, which makes it widely applied in ICT settings for
assessing how likely new technologies are to be embraced by users.
 It posits that two primary factors influence technology acceptance:
Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU). This
model is focused on how user attitudes toward technology lead to
actual usage.
Perceived Usefulness is the degree to which a person believes that
using a particular system or technology will enhance their job
performance or improve efficiency. For example, if employees believe
that a new project management tool will save them time, they’re more
likely to adopt it.
Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) is the degree to which a person believes
that using a system or technology will be free of effort. If a technology
is intuitive, simple to navigate, and requires minimal learning, users are
more likely to adopt it.
The TAM Model Process:
•Attitude Toward Using (ATU):
• Attitudes toward the technology are shaped by both PU and PEOU. If a
person perceives a technology as both useful and easy to use, they are
likely to develop a positive attitude toward it.
•Behavioral Intention to Use (BI):
• Attitudes (ATU) influence the Behavioral Intention (BI) to use the
technology. For instance, if an employee has a favorable attitude toward
a new email system due to its ease of use and usefulness, they are more
likely to intend to use it regularly.
•Actual System Use (ASU):
• The behavioral intention (BI) leads to the Actual System Use (ASU),
where users begin actively using the technology in their daily tasks.
THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR
TPB helps in understanding the behavioral intentions behind technology
use. Developed by psychologist Icek Ajzen in 1985, TPB is widely used
in social psychology and ICT fields to predict and explain user intentions
toward adopting new technology.
The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a psychological theory that
explains how individuals make behavioral choices, including decisions to
adopt or reject technology. TPB posits that behavior is directly
influenced by behavioral intention (the likelihood of performing a
specific action) and that intentions are shaped by attitudes, subjective
norms, and perceived behavioral control.
Attitude reflects the individual's positive or negative evaluation of
performing the behavior, such as adopting new technology. If a person
believes that using a new software will be beneficial and easy to use,
they will likely form a favorable attitude toward adopting it.
Subjective norms refer to the perceived social pressure to perform or
not perform a specific behavior. It considers the influence of people
important to the user, such as colleagues, managers, or friends, who may
either encourage or discourage the technology’s adoption.
Perceived behavioral control is the individual’s perception of their
ability to perform the behavior, which includes both internal and
external factors. Internal factors involve knowledge and skills, while
external factors encompass access to resources and support.
UNIFIED THEORY OF ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF
TECHNOLOGY (UTAUT)
The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)
was created to unify multiple existing models of technology acceptance,
including TAM, Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and others, into one
comprehensive model.
UTAUT model, developed by Venkatesh et al. in 2003, which integrates
elements from various acceptance theories. UTAUT aims to explain user
intentions to use technology and their subsequent usage behavior by
identifying key factors that predict technology adoption more
accurately.
UTAUT has become one of the most influential models in ICT research for
predicting user acceptance by focusing on four core determinants.
 Performance Expectancy (PE)
 Effort Expectancy (EE)
 Social Influence (SI)
 Facilitating Conditions (FC)
Core Constructs in UTAUT:
•Performance Expectancy (PE):
• This refers to the degree to which a user believes that using the technology will
help them achieve gains in job performance. For instance, if an employee
believes a new system will make tasks faster and more accurate, they are more
likely to adopt it.
• PE is comparable to Perceived Usefulness in TAM and is often considered the
strongest predictor of user intention to adopt technology.
•Effort Expectancy (EE):
• Effort expectancy is the perceived ease of use of the technology. If a user finds
the system straightforward, intuitive, and easy to learn, their adoption
likelihood increases.
• Similar to TAM’s Perceived Ease of Use, EE is critical during the early stages of
user interaction with the technology.
•Social Influence (SI):
• Social influence refers to the extent to which users perceive that important
others (such as colleagues, managers, or friends) believe they should use the
new technology. Social pressure or influence can strongly impact user decisions,
especially if those people hold positions of authority or have close social ties.
• This construct integrates social components from theories like Social Cognitive
Theory (SCT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), acknowledging the
role of peer and managerial support.
•Facilitating Conditions (FC):
• Facilitating conditions are the resources, support, and infrastructure that make
technology use possible. This includes access to technical support, compatibility
with existing systems, and adequate training.
• It is especially critical for sustained technology use since even useful and easy-
to-use systems may face adoption challenges if users lack support or resources.
Influence of Demographic Moderators:
•UTAUT recognizes that age, gender, experience, and voluntariness of use (whether
the use is mandatory or optional) impact each core construct's influence on behavioral
intention:
• Age: Younger users may adapt to new technology more quickly, while older
users may require more support or training.
• Gender: Social and effort expectations may vary by gender, as cultural and
societal norms sometimes influence confidence in technology use.
• Experience: Users with more experience or familiarity with similar technologies
often have higher performance expectancy.
• Voluntariness of Use: If technology adoption is mandatory (e.g., in work
environments), social influence and facilitating conditions play a more prominent
role than in voluntary situations.
 IMPACT OF ICT AND AI ON
TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM
CHANGE OF PATTERN IN CONSUMING CONTENT
Time spent per day in Digital and Traditional media
RISE OF REGIONAL LANGUAGE PORTALS
In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in the
consumption of content in regional languages in India. This trend is
driven by several factors, including the increasing internet
penetration in rural areas, the affordability of smartphones, and
the growing interest among audiences to consume news and
information in their native languages.
Examples:

Dailyhunt: Dailyhunt is one of India's leading news aggregator

platforms that offers content in various regional languages,
including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. It
aggregates news articles, videos, and other multimedia content
from multiple sources and presents them to users in their preferred
language.
Regional News Portals: Several regional news portals have
emerged in recent years, catering specifically to audiences in
different states and regions of India.
Regional Language Apps: Many mainstream news organizations
and media houses have developed dedicated mobile apps in
regional languages to cater to a wider audience base.
MOBILE JOURNALISM (MOJO)
Mobile Journalism (MoJo) refers to the practice of producing,
editing, and distributing news content using mobile devices such as
smartphones and tablets. It has emerged as a significant trend in
online journalism, particularly in regions like India where
smartphone penetration is high and internet access is becoming
increasingly affordable.
LIVE BLOGGING
 Live blogging is a real-time reporting technique where
journalists provide continuous updates on a particular event or
topic.
 It involves posting short updates, photos, videos, and
commentary as events unfold.
 Examples include breaking news coverage, sports events,
elections, and entertainment awards shows.
GROWTH OF DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION MODELS
The growth of digital subscription models has been a significant
trend in online journalism globally. With the decline in traditional
advertising revenue and the rise of digital platforms, many news
organizations have turned to subscription-based models to
generate revenue and sustain quality journalism.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS CONSUMPTION
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN JOURNALISM
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various aspects of
journalism, from content creation and curation to audience analytics
and distribution. News organizations are increasingly leveraging
AI-powered tools and algorithms to streamline workflows,
personalize content, and enhance storytelling capabilities.
Examples:
Automated News Writing:
News organizations like The Associated Press (AP) use AI-driven
software, such as Automated Insights Wordsmith platform, to
generate news articles automatically. These algorithms analyze
data, such as earnings reports or sports statistics, and produce
written narratives in natural language format.
Audience Engagement and Personalization:
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are being used by news
organizations to engage with audiences, answer questions, and
deliver personalized news updates. For example, The Washington
Post's "Heliograf" bot provides users with personalized news alerts
and updates via messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger.
WEB MONETISATION
Website monetization is the process of converting existing traffic
being sent to a particular website into revenue.
It is an essential concept because website monetization helps to
generate active or passive income from the website and can
enable to scale the operations
BANNER ADVERTISING
A web banner or banner ad is a form of advertising on the World
Wide Web delivered by an ad server. This form of online
advertising entails embedding an advertisement into a web page.
It is intended to attract traffic to a website by linking to the website
of the advertiser.
COST PER MILLE (CPM) – COST PER THOUSAND
Cost per mille means cost per thousand, is a pricing model for
advertisers, referring to the amount advertisers pay to display an
ad for every thousand impressions it gets.
CLICK THROUGH RATES
(CTR) is a ratio that measures the number of times an ad was
clicked per number of times it was served across sites, apps, search
results, and more. This metric can be used to measure the success of
pay-per-click (PPC) search results.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
MACHINE LEARNING
Machine-learning algorithms use
statistics to find patterns in massive
amounts of data. And data, here,
encompasses a lot of things—
numbers, words, images, clicks,
what have you. If it can be
digitally stored, it can be fed into
a machine-learning algorithm.

Machine (and deep) learning comes in three flavors: supervised,

unsupervised, and reinforcement.
SUPERVISED LEARNING
In supervised learning, the most prevalent, the data is labeled to
tell the machine exactly what patterns it should look for. Think of it
as something like a sniffer dog that will hunt down targets once it
knows the scent it’s after. That’s what you’re doing when you press
play on a Netflix show—you’re telling the algorithm to find similar
shows.
UNSUPERVISED LEARNING
In unsupervised learning, the data has no labels. The machine just
looks for whatever patterns it can find. This is like letting a dog
smell tons of different objects and sorting them into groups with
similar smells. Unsupervised techniques aren’t as popular because
they have less obvious applications. Interestingly, they have gained
traction in cybersecurity.
REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
A reinforcement algorithm learns by trial and error to achieve a
clear objective. It tries out lots of different things and is rewarded
or penalized depending on whether its behaviors help or hinder it
from reaching its objective. This is like giving and withholding treats
when teaching a dog a new trick. Reinforcement learning is the
basis of Google’s AlphaGo, the program that famously beat the
best human players in the complex game of Go.
DEEP LEARNING
Deep learning, on the other hand, is a subset of
machine learning that uses neural networks with
multiple layers to analyze complex patterns and
relationships in data. It is inspired by the structure
and function of the human brain and has been
successful in a variety of tasks, such as computer
vision, natural language processing, and speech
recognition.
Deep learning models are trained using large
amounts of data and algorithms that are able to
learn and improve over time, becoming more
accurate as they process more data. This makes
them well-suited to complex, real-world problems
and enables them to learn and adapt to new
situations.
COMPUTER VISION
Computer vision is the process by which AIs see and interpret the
physical world, either through images and videos, or directly
through their sensors.
Computer vision is obviously a key part of creating self-driving
cars, but it also has more immediate uses. AIs, for example, can be
trained to differentiate between common skin conditions, detect
weapons, or simply add descriptive text, so people using screen
readers have a better online experience.
 Language generation: AI apps generate new text based on given
prompts or contexts, such as generating text for chatbots, virtual
assistants, or even creative writing.
 Answering questions: AI apps respond to users who've asked a
question in natural language on a specific topic.
 Sentiment analysis: AI apps analyze text to determine the sentiment
or emotional tone of the writer, such as whether the text expresses a
positive, negative, or neutral sentiment.
 Text classification: AI classifies text into different categories or
topics, such as categorizing news articles into politics, sports, or
entertainment.
 Machine translation: AI translates text from one language to
another, such as from English to Kannada.
ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK
WHAT IS ANN?
An Artificial Neural Network is defined as a versatile machine
learning algorithm inspired by biological neural networks,
consisting of interconnected layers of "neurons" with weighted
connections that process inputs and pass outputs to the next layer.
Artificial Neural Networks contain artificial neurons which are
called units . These units are arranged in a series of layers that
together constitute the whole Artificial Neural Network in a system.
 ARTIFICIAL VS BIOLOGICAL NEURON
A biological neuron The input nodes of
has a cell body or artificial neural networks
soma to process the receive input signals, the
impulses, dendrites to hidden layer nodes
receive them, and an compute these input
axon that transfers signals, and the output
them to other neurons. layer nodes compute the
final output by
processing the hidden
layer’s results using
activation functions.
BASIC STRUCTURE OF AN ANN
Input Layer:Takes raw data (e.g., text,
images, audio).
Example: Pixels of an image for facial
recognition.
Hidden Layers:Perform computations to
identify patterns or relationships within the
data.
Composed of multiple layers where each node
applies mathematical functions to process data.
Output Layer:Delivers the final result based
on the processed data.
Example: Recognizing if an image is of a cat or
a dog.
BACKPROPAGATION: THE LEARNING PROCESS OF
NEURAL NETWORKS
 Backpropagation, short for backward propagation of errors, is a
fundamental algorithm that enables Artificial Neural Networks
(ANNs) to learn by refining their predictions.
 Backpropagation is a method used to train neural networks by
updating their weights systematically.
 The goal is to minimize the error (difference between predicted
output and actual output).
 It works by propagating the error backward through the network to
adjust the weights of the connections between neurons.
THE PROCESS OF BACKPROPAGATION
Step 1: Forward Propagation
•Data flows from the input layer through the hidden layers to the output
layer.
•The network makes a prediction.
•Example: For an image of a cat, the network predicts the label as "dog."
Step 2: Calculate the Error
•The network calculates the difference between the predicted output and the
actual output.
•This error is called the loss or cost and is measured using a mathematical
function like Mean Squared Error (MSE).
•Example: If the actual label is "cat" and the network predicts "dog," the error
reflects the level of mismatch.
Step 3: Backward Propagation of Error
•The error is propagated back through the network.
•Each weight in the network is adjusted to reduce the error for the next
iteration.
Step 4: Weight Adjustment
•The network uses a technique called gradient descent to adjust weights:
• Gradients (slopes) indicate how much the weights need to change.
• The weights are updated in small steps to reduce the error.
Step 5: Repeat the Process
•This process of forward propagation, error calculation,
backpropagation, and weight adjustment is repeated for multiple
iterations (epochs) until the error is minimized.
Updating Weights:
Each weight is updated using this formula:
New Weight=Old Weight−Learning Rate×Gradient
•Old Weight: The current value of the weight.
•Learning Rate: A small number (like 0.01 or 0.001) that controls how
much we adjust the weight in one step, to avoid overcorrection.
•Gradient: How much the weight contributed to the error.
AUTOMATED JOURNALISM
DEFINITION OF AUTOMATED JOURNALISM
•Automated journalism refers to the use of
algorithms, AI, and Natural Language
Processing (NLP) to generate news stories,
data-driven reports, or multimedia content.
•It aims to streamline the content production
process, making it faster, more efficient, and
often scalable.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
1.Data-Driven:
 Automated systems rely on structured data, such as stock market
figures, sports scores, or weather patterns, to generate content.
2.Minimal Human Intervention:
 While humans set up the system and provide guidelines, the process
of content creation is largely automated.
3.Customization:
 Stories can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different
audiences or platforms (e.g., summarizing detailed news into bullet
points for social media).
HOW DOES AUTOMATED JOURNALISM WORK?

Processing: NLP Template Quality Check: Output:

Input: Raw data and algorithms Creation: AI Automated Published content
from APIs or analyze the structures content systems or human delivered to
databases. data. using templates. editors review platforms.
the output.
 Data Collection
What Happens:
•Automated journalism begins with collecting structured data from
reliable sources.
•Examples of structured data include:
• Financial Reports: Stock prices, earnings results.
• Sports Statistics: Match scores, player performance.
• Weather Data: Temperature, precipitation, wind patterns.
Role of Technology:
•Data Mining Tools and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
extract data from databases or live feeds.
•Example: An API from a sports organization provides real-time match
updates to AI systems.
 Natural Language Processing (NLP)
What Happens:
•NLP systems process raw data and convert it into human-readable text.
•The technology identifies patterns, key points, and relationships in the
data.
Role of Technology:
•NLP Algorithms interpret numbers and technical jargon, turning them
into concise and accessible language.
•Example: "Stock price rose by 5% today" is generated from numerical
market data.
 Template-Based Writing
What Happens:
•AI uses predefined templates to structure the content.
•Templates include placeholders for dynamic elements (e.g., names,
scores, percentages).
Role of Technology:
•Algorithms match data points to the appropriate placeholders in the
template.
•Example: For a sports update, the template might be:
• "[Team A] defeated [Team B] with a score of [X]-[Y]. [Player]
was the top performer with [statistic]."
 Automated Quality Checks
What Happens:
•AI tools perform quality checks on grammar, style, and factual accuracy.
Role of Technology:
•Machine Learning Models and grammar-checking software ensure
polished content.
•Systems like Grammarly or ProWritingAid may be integrated for
linguistic accuracy.
APPLICATIONS OF AUTOMATED JOURNALISM
 Financial Reporting
What It Entails:
•Automated systems generate quick, accurate, and detailed reports on
financial markets, company earnings, and economic indicators.
How It Works:
•Algorithms analyze real-time market data, company performance
metrics, and trends.
•NLP systems craft summaries or detailed reports tailored for investors
and financial analysts.
Examples:
•Associated Press (AP): Uses automated tools
like Wordsmith by AutomatedInsights to
generate quarterly earnings reports for
thousands of companies.
•Bloomberg Terminal: Provides instant updates
on stock price movements and economic news.
Significance:
•Ensures timely and consistent updates, catering
to the fast-paced needs of financial markets.
 Personalized News Delivery
What It Entails:
•AI customizes news based on user preferences, location, and browsing
history.
How It Works:
•Machine learning algorithms analyze user behavior to recommend
tailored content.
•Platforms generate summaries or long-form articles depending on
audience interests.
Examples:
•Google News and Flipboard: Use automated systems to deliver curated
content for individual users.
•Spotify Wrapped (News Podcasts): Personalizes podcast
recommendations.
Significance:
•Enhances user engagement by making news consumption more relevant
and enjoyable.
 Sports Reporting
What It Entails:
•Automation helps cover live sports events by producing match
summaries, player statistics, and real-time updates.
How It Works:
•Data from live feeds is processed to create reports on match results,
player performances, and team standings.
•AI can also personalize content based on fan preferences.
Examples:
•Platforms like ESPN and Yahoo Sports use automation for real-time
coverage of leagues like the NBA, IPL, and FIFA.
•Local media outlets use AI to produce reports for smaller or regional
sports events.
Significance:
•Enables extensive coverage of sports events without requiring large
human resources.
 Election Reporting
What It Entails:
•Automated journalism provides real-time election results, constituency
updates, and analysis.
How It Works:
•Election data is gathered from official sources and processed to
generate localized and national updates.
•AI tools create different versions of stories for various regions or
platforms.
Examples:
•The Washington Post’s Heliograf: Automated coverage of local and
national elections during the 2016 U.S. elections.
•Indian news platforms have started using automation for state and
general election reporting.
Significance:
•Facilitates comprehensive and accurate election coverage across
multiple constituencies.
 Ways to monetize a website

1. Google AdSense
You can generate income by allowing Google to place ads on your website. Then, you get
paid when someone clicks on those ads. It would help to learn a little more about Google
Adsense and how it works to see why this method works for many websites.
Google helps searchers find information on websites, the platform also helps businesses reach
customers. As a website owner who provides information on a website, you can earn by
having a site that draws a certain level of engaged users.
Individuals and businesses use Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising to reach their audience. When
someone from your audience interacts with the ads, you earn. Although Google Adsense is
not the only game in town concerning advertising placement, it is the most popular and
straightforward.
All you need to do is apply to be an AdSense partner. Google will review your application,
and if you get the approval, you can start showing ads on your website almost immediately.
The best part is that you can use the same Google Adsense on multiple websites.
Advertisers pay Google each time someone clicks on their ads. In return, Google pays you a
share of what the advertisers paid. You get paid between the 21st and the 26th of the month.
If you are wondering how many views you need to have on your website to earn, the number
will vary. Still, it is a good idea to have at least 50 views per day. This shows that you are on
the right track and can help you to have more who are interested in clicking on a few ads and
going to the advertisers’ landing page.
You might also wonder how much Google Adsense will pay you per 1000 views. The answer
is that it will vary depending on how many people click through the ads and visit the
advertiser. The more interested people that click on the ads, the higher the earnings.

2. Direct advertising
Google Adsense works as a middleman between you and advertisers. You can choose to work
directly with advertisers. This route will require a little more effort, but you can keep all the
earnings for yourself.
The best part is that you get to negotiate the price. If you have quite a bit of web traffic, it
gives you immense negotiating power. Conversely, you might not earn much from this
method at the beginning stages if you have very little traffic.
Another significant aspect is that you can choose where and how the ads appear on your
website. You can show the ads at the bottom of the page as side banners or pop-ups. You can
also vary the pricing for each location.
You have to choose between the pay-per-click or pay-per-visitor model. The former only pays
when someone clicks on the ad link, while the latter pays based on the number of page visits.
The best option depends on your website traffic and how often you expect visitors to click on
the link. In general, pay-per-click pays more.
Building relationships with advertisers can be challenging at first. But a good strategy can
help you get it done. You need a media kit that shows your website statistics and pricing and
relevant visibility on online platforms like LinkedIn and SellerCrowd to help you get
advertisers. If you object to specific ads, ensure your media kit contains such information.
You can also let your readers know you are willing to put up your ads on your website to get
the word out.

3. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing has been present for quite a while. Still, it is making headlines due to its
substantial earning potential. Here is how it works. First, you promote a product or service on
your website and encourage your readers to purchase them using your unique link. When
they make a purchase, the company that owns the product or service offers you a share of the
selling price.
Affiliate marketing is great if you promote or review products on your blog. It also works if
you make how-to guides or share your thoughts on different areas of life. You put in a good
word for the product and insert your link. There are two ways to make affiliate marketing:
direct and indirect.
You get your affiliate link directly from the company with the direct approach. Say you are an
affiliate for a toothbrush company. You go to the company website or email their team for an
affiliate link. Then, you get a commission each time someone buys a toothbrush using your
link.
The indirect approach is to join an affiliate network, such as CJ Affiliate, ClickBank, and
ShareASale. You can also affiliate with big e-commerce brands like Amazon.
Both approaches have pros and cons, so you should make your choice based on what works
for you.

4. Charge for your content

Suppose you have many dedicated readers, and the idea of putting ads on your website
doesn't sit well with you. In that case, you can ask your readers to pay for your content. These
can be a one-time fee or recurring fee.
This approach typically works well for niche blogs and websites. This may alienate some
readers, but website owners minimize this by having a mixture of free and paid content.
Depending on how you structure the site and create content, it could help you develop a
firmly knitted community. This method works well if you are an authority or inside source in
your chosen niche.
Many website builders allow you to set up paywalls for your content. Using a WordPress site,
you can set up the paywall by implementing a member site plugin such as WP-members and
simple membership.
You can also choose to set up different membership tiers.
You can significantly earn with this approach if you have people interested in paying for your
content.

5. Request donations
If you have many dedicated readers and putting your content behind a paywall doesn't sit well
with you, you can politely ask your readers for donations.
This approach can be the least profitable as not everyone would donate. Moreover, even those
who want to donate might not know how much to contribute.
Setting up donation channels on your website is easy. You can add donation buttons linked to
your website on Stripe and PayPal. If your website or blog accepts crypto donations, you can
ask your readers to donate crypto assets by listing your respective cryptocurrency addresses.
Make sure you politely and consistently promote your readers to make donations. It would
help if you made the donation process as easy as possible.

6. Sell products and services

Unlike affiliate marketing, where you sell other people's products, this approach involves
selling your products and services. The best part is that you can sell anything. These include
digital products such as artwork and books, physical products, and services.
A few content creators aggregate their content into specific packages or programs and sell
these as digital products. For instance, if your audience is looking to lose weight, you might
create a compelling diet plan and sell that.
If you have other products and need to create an online store, you will have to set up and start
an e-commerce store. Thankfully, many hosting platforms offer e-commerce solutions. You
can also sign up on dedicated e-commerce hosting providers like Shopify and BigCommerce.
There are many ways to market your products. You can sporadically create content that
revolves around your offerings. Alternatively, you can take a general approach and
organically recommend your products and services in your content.

7. Flipping websites
Flipping websites is a fun way of monetizing websites. You start a website and help it grow in
popularity. You invite others to check the website and bid on it. You then sell the website at a
fair price.
Many factors determine how profitable a website can be. One of them is the website traffic
and the profits that it generates. Other essential factors are the SEO value of the domain name
and the website niche.
To get a good picture of how much you can sell a website, you should check out website
listing platforms such as Empire Flippers.
You should also note that flipping a website requires considerable time and resources. So
even if you intend to sell a website, you can apply other methods in this guide to make the
website generate income for you.

8. Sponsored content
Sponsored content (also known as paid content or native advertising) is similar to ads in that
someone pays you to advertise something on your website. They can be in the form of paid
reviews, sales announcements, product launches, event coverage, or offers.
It is entirely up to you to determine the type of sponsored post you want on your site. You can
also determine if you or the sponsoring brands have to write the posts. Many websites charge
more if they are also creating sponsored posts.
Although sponsored posts can be a lucrative venture, you don't want to overdo it. Ideally, you
want to ensure your regular posts outnumber the sponsored posts by a wide margin. You also
want to ensure the sponsored posts do not hurt your brand or annoy your audience.