Change hasn’t spared the media too. And the combined power of media and technology has left everybody astonished. With the ever increasing use of computers and internet, the role of web journalism has become very significant. The technology like the World Wide Web, combined with the media has immensely transformed the concept of journalism.

The internet today is the newly explored, most frequently used and the most popular way to communicate and to access news and information which is quite evident from the huge readership of online newspapers and the popularity of blogs, RSS feeds, podcast etc. 

News online is hardly space bound. It allows you to hear, read and view the news, all at the same time. The news is regularly updated, served as it happens. The online discussion forums allow sharing of views, opinions and instant feedback and have hence permitted interactivity between the source and the audience. Archiving has again helped making the new media popular amongst all generations. 

With the editions of almost all the print media now available online with corresponding picture galleries, motion videos and animations etc, the latest buzz is just a click away!

Imagine a husband divorcing his wife because her Facebook ‘relationship status’ listed her as single! It might sound very absurd but it’s equally true. The social networking sites have redefined relationships. There’s enormous amount of creditability tagged with the ‘online profiles’.

The phone numbers, contact addresses and even the e-mail ids change but the ‘profiles’ stay. It’s easier to stay in touch with relatives living far away, thanks to ‘scrapbooks’ and ‘walls’. Today the foundation of a relationship is laid by accepting random friend requests. The more the merrier! ‘Friends’, most of whom you probably haven’t ever met, are strangely ready to invest their attention into your life. The personal lives, as if a 24X7 news channel, are being broadcasted!

These sites have created a virtual world for most, an ideal life, far away from the harsh realities. People love the anonymity. Some demarcate their professional and personal lives by ‘living’ multiple profiles.

It is astonishing to observe that how a boy and a girl can commit for the rest of their lives over a couple of chat sessions. The usefulness of these sites shall be debated for long but this trend is here to stay. Come and connect to the world outside!

The glittery glove famously worn by former pop idol Michael Jackson in his 1983 video for the hit song ‘Billie Jean’ is up for sale. Sources say that the glove will be auctioned off in April, together with more than 2,000 items from the ‘Neverland Ranch,’ Jackson’s home for over 15 years, until he abandoned in the aftermath of his 2005 acquittal on charges that he molested a young male visitor there.

According to celebrity memorabilia specialist Julien’s Auctions, which announced the auction Wednesday, the sale will also include the entry gates to Neverland Ranch as well many of the amusement and arcade devices that Jackson installed at Neverland to make his own private amusement park. In addition to the collection of memorabilia from Jackson’s own career the auction will also feature numerous fine art pieces and other pop culture memorabilia.

The auction came just weeks after the financially-troubled Jackson sold Neverland to a company that owned the mortgage on the property and which now plans to redevelop the 1,100 hectare ranch. Jackson’s possessions will be on display from February onwards in a highlights tour that according to Julien’s will visit major cities worldwide.

Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo could be in line for another major honor after being short-listed for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. The Portugal and Manchester United winger has been nominated alongside Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi, AC Milan playmaker Kaka and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Reports say that Ronaldo was third in last year’s FIFA vote behind Brazilian winner Kaka and Argentinian Messi but is the overwhelming favourite to see off those two to take the award for 2008, which is presented in Zurich Jan 12. The Portuguese in the meanwhile have achieved phenomenal success individually and as part of a team last season, winning the Premier League and Champions League with United while scoring 42 goals. 

The 38-year-old singer who wed 28-year-old Nick Cannon last April is planning a lavish ceremony for their first anniversary, and one every year after that. She reportedly said that she was bombarded with calls on the day she got married. Most callers wondered whether her marriage was a rumor or was it for real. She stated that she wanted a bigger wedding on her first anniversary.

She’s also toying with the idea of having a wedding every year. Sources reveal that there were only eight people attended Mariah and Nick’s low-key ceremony in the Bahamas, and the singer known for her love of luxury and excess insists it was perfect. Mariah who was previously married to record executive Tommy Mottola — added that she wanted the opposite of what went wrong the first time as her wedding to Nick she affirms was the most beautiful day of her life.

Slumdog Millionaire consolidated its Oscar nomination chances last week winning a slew of key awards and by being nominated in four Golden Globes categories including best film, best director (Danny Boyle), best adapted screenplay (Simon Beaufoy) and best original score (A R Rahman). Widely televised worldwide, the Globes are given by Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Last week, the $15 million movie which has grossed nearly $6 million in North America in limited release in four weeks, was honored with two awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association including best direction and music, one from the New York Film Critics’ Circle, as well as six nominations for the Critics Choice Awards including best picture. It has been declared the year’s best by the National Board of Review. In London, where Slumdog also won best film at the British Independent Film Awards, also became a sentimental winner. ‘We are thrilled that we can hopefully bring some positive light to what has happened over there (the terrorist attacks in Mumbai) by honoring this film,’ board President Annie Schulhof said at the awards.  

Cristiano Ronaldo’s former girlfriend Leitizia Filippi has stripped to the bare nothing in a new calendar. The Italian beauty who briefly dated the winker in July has stripped naked for a series of shots. Ronaldo bombarded Letizia with texts after meeting her at a party on a yacht while he was with his then girlfriend, Spanish model Nereida Gallardo.

However the affair quickly fizzled out when Ronaldo spent a lengthy spell in Los Angeles recovering from ankle surgery. Despite reports Ronaldo is now dating Ukranian beauty Alyona Haynes, a friend has revealed Letizia is keen to rekindle her romance with the Portuguese star.

Actress Kate Hudson insists on total honesty in her relationships. Katie, who was once married to Black Crowes rocker Chris Robinson also date cyclist Lance Armstrong and actor Owen Wilson. She told the media that she couldn’t be romantically involved with someone who kept secrets. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old mother of a four year old son also revealed she will be cutting back on spending this Christmas and is planning to make many of her own gifts.

She agreed that the recession had taken out the celebration mood and believed that everyone was feeling gloomy. She said that this season she was big time into knitting, something that she did not want to reveal much about. Well, that’s one crafty lady for sure!

A new study has shown that contraceptive methods can have a significant impact on women’s sexual pleasure and satisfaction. Research also proves that many women think condoms decrease their sexual pleasure. On the other hand, those who use both hormonal contraception and condoms report higher overall sexual satisfaction.  

During the study, women admitted condoms make sex less pleasurable, while those who used only hormonal methods — such as the birth control pills — were unlikely to associate their method with decreased sexual pleasure.  When asked about the effect of contraceptives on sexual enjoyment, women who used condoms either alone or with hormonal methods reported decreased sexual pleasure.

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue is all set to croon a song for the Bollywood multi-starrer ‘Blue’ According to sources, the music will be composed by music maestro A R Rahman. Reportedly, Kylie will reach India by January 2009 to record the song and if reports are to be believed, the lady is charging a staggering amount of Rs five crores, i.e. $1 million for the song. It is also rumored that Minogue was not the first choice for this song. In fact, Madonna and the popular R&B singer Rihanna were on the wish list of the film’s producers for the song, but since nothing materialized, Minogue was approached.

Kylie will also shoot the song’s music video.