6. The New Media Flashcards
What is the new media
-Screen based, digital technology involving images, text and sound and technology used to distribute and consume media content
-A single device can be used to consume a variety of media
-Jenkins argues this has led to cultural convergence, the way new media users interact with media content. The way new media users interact with other members of society
Features of new media
Lister et al suggests there are 5 main concepts that distinguish new media from traditional media: ….
Digitality
This means using computers, all data converted to binary code then stored and distributed via screen based products
Interactivity
-Means consumers have an opportunity to interact with media, customise media and even create their own.
-Viewers were limited to passive viewing of content in traditional media.
-Jenkins believes interactivity has led to:
•Collective intelligence- Using new media has become a collective process. No one knows everything but each of us knows something. Creating a shared intelligence
•Participatory culture- Producers and consumers of media now interact with each other. Consumers produce content which producers consume and incorporate into media texts etc.
Hypertextuality
This refers to the links which form a web of connections to other bits of information. Gives users a way of searching, interacting with and customising media for their own use.
Dispersal
-New media is less centralised and more adapted to individual choices.
-Been a huge growth of media products of all kinds which have become part of everyday life, shown by the fact new media used on everyday basis
-Production of media now becoming dispersed throughout the population, rather than being limited to employees in the media industry.
Virtuality
-Refers to way ppl can now immerse themselves in completely unreal, interactive experiences in virtual world created by new technology, e.g. computer games.
-Ppl can also create imaginary identities in online communication and networking sights like Twitter
Use of new media
-New media are beginning to overtake the traditional media as a means of mass communication
-Internet use in Europe has a higher average than TV use per person
-Many newspapers have websites now
Advertising
-Advertisers now spend more on internet than traditional media advertising
-Importance of advertising income means websites increasingly have to appeal to mass audiences to attract advertisers
-Spam is also becoming a cheap means for advertisers to reach mass audiences
Stratification in new media
-Users of new media are not a homogeneous group. Users are differentiated by class, gender, age, location etc
-Dutton and Blank found 91% of ppl with higher education had used the internet, compared to 34% of those with no formal qualifications
-Poorer families, elderly, disabled etc are less likely to use internet
Social class differences/inequalities
-Middle and upper class biggest users of new media as they can afford it. Those in poorer social classes have least access to new media at home and are DIGITALLY EXCLUDED.
-Evidence of a digital divide which is gap between those with effective access to digital info and those without
-HELSPER showed a digital underclass was forming in Britain. Ppl who tend to be unemployed, living in poverty and less educated are disadvantaged and less likely to get benefits from it
-Internet now such a normal part of life that those who lack access or skills to use it face social exclusion
Age differences
-Large generational gap in access to and use of new media
-Boyle points out, younger ppl have grown up with latest developments in new media and therefore more able to use it
-Younger ppl more likely to use wide range of media formats: watching TV on mobile phones or tablets
-Ppl aged 16-24 are 10x more likely to go online via mobile than those aged 55+
-OFCOM found younger ppl are: Spend more time online, more likely to own smartphone, use new media as a form of leisure and entertainment
Gender differences
-Differences between males and females and how they use new media. OFCOM found:
•Games consoles more popular in men
•E readers more popular among women
•Males more likely to use smartphone
•Females more likely to report addiction to mobile phones
•Females more likely to use phone to make calls and text
-Li and Kirkuk found men more likely to be positive about internet and spend more time on it. Females underestimated their ability in internet and used it more for studying. They see it as a tool.
Effects of new media on traditional media
-Traditional media companies are massively involved in new media. This part of horizontal integration and cross media ownership.
-This means there is a form of synergy between traditional and new media as they support and interact with each other
Changes influencing traditional media
Some of changes from the development and growth of new media which have had an impact on traditional media include:
-Decline in newspaper sales and reduced viewing figures of TV news bulletins
-Newspapers, TV channels etc having their own websites. Readerships often exceed readerships of printed formats
-Uses of new media or form content of traditional media, use internet for research
