Difference Between Online and Replica Edition of Newspapers
Difference Between Online and Replica Edition of Newspapers
A newspaper could have an online edition which looks different from the replica edition of that same newspaper. This is because while the replica edition published electronically (e-edition) has the same content and pages with the print edition, the online edition may contain most of the stories in the print edition but the pages the stories appear in, are often different. Online editions do not have page numbers and the pages are not divided into columns (Dominick, 2009). Their stories are also longer than the stories in replica and print editions because in an online newspaper, a story, speech or information which was edited in the replica or print edition is often published entirely in the online edition. Some online newspapers even contain video links, pictures and audio clips; their stories are updated by the minute, making it possible for breaking news to be reflected in them. But replica editions are not updated as frequently as online editions, meaning that the online edition is always more current. There seems to be little separation between the characteristics of online and replica editions of newspapers in Nigeria, though what most organizations have is online editions.
Online newspaper stories are longer in length because the number of stories that can be contained in one edition of a newspaper (newshole) is not limited. Online newspapers are interactive in nature because they have chat rooms, bulletin boards and e-mail addresses people use in providing immediate feedback. A bulletin board is a website or web page where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to other users’ comments. It is pertinent to note that the: replica editions may be more credible than the online editions because of the rigorous and more thorough gate-keeping associated with the replica editions. Though newspaper establishments have online editors, there seems to be less rigid editing in online editions especially in terms of story length and content. The unlimited news space makes online newspapers a bit less serious than replica editions (e-editions) of print copies. However, online editions also enjoy readership among audience members. What is more common in Nigeria is publication of electronic replica editions of newspapers.
