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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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Podcast: Play in new window

We at talkingDigital podcast network are proud to announce that Castellini on Computers has joined our ever-growing list of new shows. Castellini on Computers has evolved over the past 10 years from a small town terrestrial radio show, to a nationally syndicated show and now it lives as a podcast right here on talkingDigital.org.

Castellini on Computers is a podcast about computers and technology for the non-geek. Each show features Q&A, news, and tips for those who were not born with an understanding of all things technical. If you consider yourself “computer illiterate, this is the podcast for you.

Of course, you are listening to podcasts, so you probably know something about technology. In that case, buy your parents an iPod and make sure they subscribe to Castellini on Computers.

Subscribe to Castellini on Computers Podcast via iTunes

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You can also subscribe with any other podcast service or software by subscribing to the site’s RSS feed.

Current rumor has the next iPhone equipped with an FM radio, something that SanDisk, Microsoft and other have offered for several years.

FM radio offers music with DJs and not much else. Anyone who knows how to use their media player probably has every song they really like already loaded on their device. This makes FM radio a very poor feature. There are few things less random than most media player’s random play feature. FM radio is one of the few exceptions. Chances are that your local CHR, AOR or Top 40 station plays the same 20 songs during the same time blocks every day – perhaps in different order.

Enter AM radio. Few people use AM radio for music. Talk, news and sports are the primary uses for AM radio – in other words, live radio. The content found on the most popular AM stations is best if listened to live. Live callers, live sports, live and breaking news.

More FM news, sports and talk stations are popping up, but AM radio is still primarily where live programs are aired.

I tend to listen to podcasts more than music on my iPod. I like podcasts because they offer timely news and conversation about topics that I am interested in. Sounds an aweful lot like talk radio doesn’t it? I would gladly give up the FM radio, voice recorder, cover art and loop single song feature for AM radio.

I can’t figure out why the industry hasn’t seen the connection. While the top radio format is often country – news, sports and talk are almost always sure bets for high ratings. The content is rarely stale to the interested listener whereas any song eventually gets old if you hear it enough times.

Shows like Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, Tom Martino, Dave Ramsey etc. have more daily loyal listeners than any modern popstar. I would love to see a major manufacturer release AM radio into a device. At first analysts would gripe, but the fans of AM radio are large enough to make a big difference in sales. That is a fact that can be seen by the fact that all of the most popular talk radio shows offer monthly podcast subscriptions. If you can’t listen while you are on the go, then you must pay to listen later.