Media

Question 1

What are some differences between the new media and traditional media?

Answer 1

Traditional media, e.g newspapers, radios, etc… are not as interactive as the new media, e.g smartTVs and phones, which enables mass communication with its’ online format compared to traditional media’s printed format

Question 2

‘Which researched describe the new medias key characteristics?

Answer 2

Curran and Seaton: Digitalisation
Boyle: Interactivity

Question 3

Curran and Seaton: Digitalisation

Answer 3

Digitalisation has revolutionised the media, allowing it to develop as traditionally printed media are now available in new digital formats. This has significantly changed media as the ability to store huge amounts of data has reduced distribution and production costs of media content, and arguable increased its interconnectivity

Question 4

Boyle: Interactivity

Answer 4

The new digital environment suggests that new media is characterised by interactivity as viewers can collaborate on the creation of media as they have a choice in what information is being transmitted. Boyle argued this has created a shift as to who is in control, media is much more demand-led now than supply-led

Question 5

Outline they key arguments made by Neophilicas

Answer 5

Boyle refers to how the new media has created consumer choice as telecommunication industries have produced devices enabling the user to view the news in a variety of ways, and in real time as news is updated almost instantly from anywhere. Moreover, social media has allowed people to have the opportunity to share their thoughts as citizen journalists suggesting equality is present in new media as everyone has the chance to spread information. Jenkins argues that this collective intelligence is beneficial

Question 6

Outline the key arguments made by Cultural Pessimists

Answer 6

Cultural pessimists tend to question the quality of the information spread by these new media outlets, Keen argues that it has lead to the decline in quality news, as many sites share inaccurate information and due to little regulation are full of bullying, harassment and discrimination. New media has weakened social cohesion, multiple opinions have split society into fragmented groups, Curran and Seaton point out it is still the 4 original TV channels which dominate TV. Cornford and Robins argue it is ultimately large corporations who own the platforms that decide what information Is spread, further highlighted by the Snowden Report which shows concerns about new media and privacy

Question 7

Suggest arguments which are in agreement about new media being significant

Answer 7

• Cornford and Robins predicted new media would be an ever-present source of information found everywhere
• The office for national statistics reports more people than ever use the internet (2013), changing the way people go about their daily lives
• Postmodernists argue new media has given audiences more choices connecting them to the globe

Question 8

Suggest arguement that are against the new media being significant

Answer 8

• Cornford and Robbins argue that the “new” media is just based on traditional forms of media, the aspect of audience participation as also been around for years
• Only certain groups find some forms of media to be significant and this varies in different regions

Question 9

How has the new media grown?

Answer 9

Williams points out that the internet was adopted into UK households much quicker than any previous ‘new’ technologies, ownership of internet devices Is also growing according to Ofcoms’ communications market report and various types are being embraced

Question 10

What other perspectives are there on the growth of the new media?

Answer 10

• Boyle argues out growth of the media is not so simple, rather than just introducing new technology it is about opening up opportunities to combined previous media types
• Keen argues that the internet’s growth costs jobs due to increases in things like illegal downloading

Question 11

Who controls the new media?

Answer 11

• Curran and Seaton acknowledges it is the state who controls the new media, through restrictions etc, but argue it is much harder to regulate due to its global nature
• Marxists argue the state uses the new media to impose control over the working class and collected information
• Liberal feminists argue the media has had some positive impact in that women can now work remotely while still being home with their children HOWEVER feminists may also argue it is through the new media men can more easily spread patriarchal ideology