talkingDigital

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What is new media? Rather, what is new about new media? Of course, the Internet has changed media and added a new dimension of communication and innovation, but when should those who produce and consume online augmented communication stop considering their methods and means as new?

Of course, the argument for new media is not new vs. old, but new vs. traditional. Traditional media comes in the form of television, radio, newspaper and magazines. However, listening to terrestrial radio via the Internet stream would most likely fall under new media. Same for television. The nightly news broadcast is a form of traditional media, but logging into the broadcast’s website to comment on a story is considered new media.

If new media is defined as online media consumption, but all traditional media outlets now have online methods of distribution and interaction, is the concept really new anymore?

So, what’s the alternative? When it comes to research, advertising and study, it is very handy to divide the media into two groups – traditional and…

How about emerging media? Emerging says it all. It’s not mainstream media, it’s not new or old. It’s emerging. A Google search suggests that others have already claimed the word emerging and associated it with specific types of media. However, the words new and social were also in existence before they were adopted into their contemporary meanings.

It’s important that those within the industry insist on using a different term for it. Otherwise, we will still be calling ourselves part of the new media 20 years after YouTube and Facebook were created. By that time, all media will be `a la carte.

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