Media Convergence: From Television to Netflix

What is media convergence? Encyclopedia Britannica states the following definition of media convergence, “phenomenon involving the interconnection of information and communication technologies, computer networks, and media content. It brings together the “three C’s” – computing, communication, and content – and is a direct consequence of the digitization of media content and the popularization of the internet.” (2013) What does this mean exactly? Well, when you use your smartphone or tablet to view or read the news, you are switching from old traditional media platforms to the new media platforms. Therefore, you are still reading the news; however, news companies are merging with the online world to better serve you. This allows you to watch videos and read the news online without having to buy a newspaper or be at home for the 5 o’clock or 10 o’clock news. People from all over the world have access to news 24/7 as long as they have an internet connection. Why is it a big deal? Anyone anywhere can post the news online; therefore, creating a very thin line between ordinary people and journalist. Regular citizens can post the news on their websites, blogs, and social networking sites. For example, say you are riding down the road and you see a car crash into the side of a building. You stop and record the accident with your phone and post it to your Facebook or Twitter account. You have now become what some people call a “citizen journalist.” Citizen journalists completely change how real journalists do their job. Anyone can now create and share content online. Before the digital age, people would buy a newspaper, watch TV, or listen to the radio to know what was going on around them in the world. Today, the audience members have now become the contributors of news. Differences between citizens and skilled journalist have become indistinct because of this media convergence. The problem with this is that regular citizens might be able to show a picture of a car wreck scene and give a brief description about the accident; however, a journalist finds out why this accident occurred in the first place. Therefore, are these “citizen journalist” real reporters? Are they considered credible? Do they ask the following questions like the experts: Was this person drunk? Did this person have a heart attack while driving the car? Or did the driver just lose control of the car? These are the type of things that an expert journalist would research. Media convergence is changing the way people hear and see the news, and media convergence is changing who is delivering the news. Journalist and communication specialist have to adapt to this new change. Communication specialist and journalist can use what regular citizens post online and research the story more to find out additional details and then reiterate the story for general public knowledge. They can contribute to a citizen’s post by giving more facts about an incident or story. Media convergence is also changing the way Nielsen measures television consumption. Traditionally, Nielson would measure what people would watch on television by sending out surveys to every American household; however, now these surveys will include people who watch television programming on their Xbox consoles and through internet websites like Hulu and Netflix. Nielson realized that more and more people were not using traditional media such as television to watch TV shows. More and more people are using the internet from their tablets or smartphones to watch their favorite TV shows. Also, as video gamers are becoming more popular, people are using their Xbox consoles to view television shows. Therefore, the Nielson has to adapt to the new digital platforms. Joe Flint states the following about Nielson’s new evolution: Nielsen's decision to change its measurement of television came as it noticed an increase in the number of homes not using traditional television systems consume television over the last couple of years. People are cutting the cord to their TV providers, younger consumers never sign up for these services. Instead they choose to get content through newer platforms such as Hulu or Netflix. (2013) Young consumers are deciding not to even purchase satellite TV or Dish Network, because they can see the shows online for free or for a cheaper price. If Nielson can get these numbers from the consumers this would change the overall data that will be collected in 2014. However, since people can view movies and television shows online, but they do not have to watch commercials. Yes, websites still have advertisement ads posted; however, the consumer does not have to click on them. Media convergence is also changing the way consumers listen to music. More people are going online to music sites such as YouTube, Project Playlist, and also downloading music aps on their smartphones to hear their favorite songs. Purchasing CDs are becoming the thing of the past, because we can go online for music. Websites like YouTube is a free service that lets users watch music videos or other types of videos from anywhere in the world. Consumers no longer have to go to local music stores to buy albums. Media convergence has completely revolutionized the way consumers handle business. Ever since the digital world became the norm, people can watch TV, download and listen to music, read and share the news, and buy and sell products online with instant gratification. Even sites like EBay and Amazon have changed the way we all do business. Everyday people can go to those websites and sell their belongings to other everyday people. Online communications is basically cutting out the middle man of purchasing products. For example, if my friend is looking for a school textbook, my friend can go online to Amazon and search for the textbook. Chances are my friend will find that textbook for a cheaper price than Barnes and Nobles or Books-A-Million. Another example is my husband is planning to purchase a good work truck. He visits Craigslist every day to find a good, decent work truck for a reasonable price. Before the internet, the only way to search for a nice, used truck was to buy a newspaper or wait until you see a truck for sale in someone’s yard. There is no doubt that media convergence is changing the world of business and communication.

 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1425043/media-convergence

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nielsen-20130221,0,7681633.story

 

Where Have the Newspapers Gone?

Where Have All the Newspapers Gone?

Do you find yourself reading the news more and more online? That is because print media is possibly on its way out the door. More and more newspaper companies and magazines are going online. Mubashir Hassan states, “Daily newspapers in the US have lost 40% of their readership in the last 20 years. In 1991, 70% of people would watch TV for news, but now a 50% drop has been witnessed in their viewership.” (2013) Why such the decrease? Because the younger generation is going to social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Vine to get their daily news. However, there is still the older generation that still prefers to hold their news information in their bare hands. They want to turn the pages and get the ink on their fingers. They probably think it is silly to read the news on something that they see as nothing more than a video game. The average age for newspaper readers in the US was 54. (Hassan, 2013) That means there is a huge gap in the population that read print newspapers as opposed to those that do not read print media. Some say it is because young teens and young adults do not want to carry around a newspaper or have it laying around in their homes. Others say that it is easier for them to check the news on their phones or tablets. One study suggests, “Millennials are more likely to own smartphones and to use them for news, and far less likely to use print newspapers, radio or TV for news.” (Sonderman, 2012) The Millennials and Generation X have grown up playing with computers, smartphones, and tablets unlike the older generation. They are more likely to embrace social media sites compared to the older generation. So what is going to happen to print media? Traditional media will have to reinvent themselves to appeal to the new trend of online social networking sites. They will need to have Facebook and Twitter pages for the younger generation, but also stay true to their older, loyal readers. If the newspaper companies can appeal to both the younger more technology advanced user and still be able to print some newspapers for the older generation, the companies should be able to survive. However, Bill Mitchell states the following about newspaper jobs lost, “In its look at established media, the study found 5, 900 newspaper jobs lost in 2009 (in addition to a similar number in 2008), reducing newsroom employment at newspapers since 2001 by a third.” (2010) That means more and more people in the journalism and communication field are having a hard time keeping their jobs. This is why there is such a huge debate on whether or not print media is dying out. However, there is no denying that print media is declining and will continue to decline while consumers become a custom to using the internet and adjusting to social media sites like Facebook. Print media does not have to completely die out as some would say. Print media just needs to adjust to publishing their news stories online so they are still appealing to all types of personalities in people. There is no doubt that we are a nation of change; however, you will always have the laggards that will grit their teeth and stand their ground when it comes to not using technology. J Ford Huffman, an independent news-media consultant, suggests, “You can read the news on your iPad, but you can't quite snuggle up with your iPad like you can a good magazine. And you can't replace your iPad, in the same ways you can replace a lost newspaper.” (Social Driver, 2012) Huffman has a point. Newspaper prices range from $1.50 -$2.00 a paper, and iPads range from $400 to $1, 100. That is quite a big difference in prices. For example, if you were an iPad user and you lost your iPad, it is a lot more difficult to replace a $400-$1000 iPad in comparison to replacing a $2.00 newspaper. However, it is easier for some users to bookmark their favorite stories with their digital devices instead of relying on a print copy, because the hard copy could be destroyed or misplaced. The bookmark feature on computers or tablets allow users to save and revisit their favorite news sites. Also, digital media such as tablets and computers allow the consumers to make the font size bigger for better visualization. Also, digital platforms allows users to watch videos online and you are able to see the news as it unfolds. Not to mention, people who use online news sources can share the stories faster by copying and pasting the stories to their social media websites or linking the stories to their website. Also, they can e-mail the stories to family and friends. More and more people are going online to stay connected with others; therefore, they have the information at their finger tips at all times if they have a smartphone or tablet. They do not have to leave the comfort of their own homes or work stations to buy a newspaper at the local market. The downside to the digital aspect of newspapers is that it is limited in article material. For example, if a parent has a child that is on the honor roll, this article may be omitted in the digital platform. This is a huge disadvantage to the parents that wish to collect those articles for keepsake or scrap-booking. Another aspect of digital media is the immediate availability of information. As soon as news worthy events happen, they are almost immediately made available to the public. This can be a double-edged sword. It allows news media to get the edge on their competitors, being the first to post; however, this rapid turn around of information does not allow for in depth investigation of what is being reported. Whether or not you prefer print media or new emerging media, there is no denying that media is forever changing to the new world of digital technology.
References:
http://socialdriver.com/2012/12/is-print-media-dead-dying-or-drifting/
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/international/16-May-2013/is-print-media-dying-in-the-us
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/business-news/newspay/101368/state-of-news-media-documents-decline-spots-6-trends-for-reinvention/
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/190586/new-data-show-shifting-patterns-as-people-seek-news-across-platforms/

I am back to discuss Strategic Communication!!!

Hello Readers,

I am back and for those who are new to my page, my name is Jenny Nelson. I am currently working towards my Master's degree in Strategic Communication. I received a Bachelor's degree in English in 2010. I am currently taking my 6th class in my Master's program. I have four more to go before I graduate. I am hoping to graduate in July 2014. My blog will consist of topics such as the following: the latest on traditional media, social networking and strategic communication, media convergence, blogging, global impact of emerging media, and the future of emerging media. I will be blogging every week for the next nine weeks. I hope to use my blog as reference and teaching tool for when I start teaching Communication courses. I hope my readers will get a better understanding about strategic communication and emerging media and why it is changing and how it is evolving over the next few years. Please feel free to comment on anything I write. I would love to hear some feedback and would love to start communicating about strategic communications.

You can find my blog my going to my url:http://letstalkaboutstrategiccommunication.blogspot.com/