The new media

• What is the definition of Old Media?

  Media produced for one single purpose
• How is New Media defined?

  Screen-based, digital technology for media distribution
• What are the features of Old Media?

  • Delivers content through separate platforms
  • Communicates one message to a mass audience
  • Users can take or leave the content
• What distinguishes New Media from Old Media according to Lister et al (2003)?

  Five main concepts:

  1. Digitality
  2. Interactivity
  3. Hypertextuality
  4. Dispersal
  5. Virtuality
• What does Digitality refer to in New Media?

  Use of a computer for storage and access
• What is meant by Virtuality in New Media?

  Allows users to immerse in unreal worlds
• What does Hypertextuality enable in New Media?

  Linkable content for searching and customization
• How are users of New Media differentiated?

  Differentiated by:

  • Class
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Location
• Who are the biggest users of New Media according to class?

  M/C and U/C due to economic means
• What does Jones (2010) argue about internet use and social-economic status?

  Internet use decreases with lower social-economic status
• What is the digital divide?

  Gap between those with and without digital access
• What does Helsper (2011) suggest about the digital underclass?

  Forming due to lack of access to technology
• What did Livingstone and Wang (2011) discover about digital skills?

  Progress in acquiring skills has ceased
• How does lack of internet access affect social inclusion?

  Leads to social exclusion due to ICT poverty
• What is the impact of age on access to New Media?

  Substantial generation gap in access and use
• Why are young people more media-savvy according to Boyle (2007)?

  They grew up with technological developments
• What percentage of 16-24 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds are infrequent internet users?

  About 10%
• What are the gender differences in New Media usage according to Ofcom (2012)?

  • Males prefer game consoles and spend more time watching videos
  • Females prefer e-readers and report higher mobile phone addiction
  • Males use the internet for news; females for social networking
• What was the internet access percentage for those 16+ in the UK in 2012?

  84%
• Which region in the UK had the highest internet access in 2012?

  London and the South East
• What is the global digital underclass?

  Gap between information-rich and information-poor nations
• What did Seaton (2003) suggest about offline and online inequalities?

  They are mirrored in both worlds
• What does the World Bank (2012) say about mobile phone access?

  75% of the world’s population has access
• How does mobile phone access differ between Europe and Africa?

  Europe has more phones per person than Africa
• What language barrier exists in internet use?

  85% of websites are written in English
• What are the two perspectives in the debate about New Media according to Curran and Seaton (2003)?

  1. Neophiliacs
  2. Cultural/Techno Pessimists
• What do Cultural Pessimists believe about New Media?

  It is not truly new and ownership is concentrated
• What do Neophiliacs argue about New Media's influence?

  It offers more choice and participation opportunities
• What supporting evidence do Neophiliacs provide for their view?

  • Increased consumer choice through convergence
  • Hundreds of entertainment and news channels available
  • Multiple media delivery systems like CD and iTunes
• What evidence do Cultural Pessimists provide against New Media's benefits?

  • Decline in quality of popular culture
  • Rise of low-quality programming
  • Emergence of a 'candy-floss culture'
• How has the internet impacted e-commerce according to Neophiliacs?

  • Revolutionized e-commerce
  • Greater economic success for e-retailers
  • Increased competition and lower prices for consumers
• What do Cultural Pessimists argue about the commercialization of the internet?

  It encourages materialism and false needs
• How do Neophiliacs view the role of New Media in democracy?

  It revitalizes democracy and informs citizens
• What does the internet provide according to Neophiliacs?

  A public sphere for diverse viewpoints
• What do Cultural Pessimists argue about the internet's impact on democracy?

  It strengthens elite power and control
• What do Cultural Pessimists say about the ownership of New Media?

  Dominated by transnational corporations
• What does Jenkins (2008) argue about participation in New Media?

  Not all participants have equal access
• What do Cultural Pessimists argue about the interactivity of New Media?

  It is not a novel feature; it's been around
• What are the changes in media technology that have allowed New Media to impact Old Media?

  • Cost reduction
  • Mobile technology advancements
  • Increased accessibility
  • Live coverage capabilities
  • Rise of citizen journalism
  • Criticism of mainstream news
  • Use of email and social networks
• How has New Media affected the power of ownership in media?

  Elite groups have less control over news agendas