Mass Media and Society

Chapter 16: The FutureOf Mass MediaApril 14, 2014

Chapter 16: Future of Mass Media• Changes in mass media• Delivery methods• Current trends• New technology and the

public• Mobile and wearable

technology

Traditional vs. new• Traditional media: Pre-

Internet, includes print, broadcast (TV, radio), film.

• New media: electronic games and entertainment, Internet, social media

• New media advantages: speed, cost, reach

Delivery methods• Most people use multiple

sources for news• Pew State of the News

Media 2014: Digital native sites competitive with traditional news (Buzzfeed nearly equals Washington Post; HuffPost, Yahoo 1-2 among news sites)

Pew report• 82% of Americans said

they got news on a desktop/laptop; 54% on a mobile device

• Traditional news organizations are cutting jobs; digital organizations (Buzzfeed, Gawker, Yahoo, new startups) are adding jobs in news

Advantages of modern delivery• Speed• Plenty of content available• Cheaper than traditional

media• More voices and outlets

Disadvantages of modern delivery• Misrepresentation and

misinformation online• Unreliable sources

(Wikipedia), Partisanship• Digital Divide• Many of these

disadvantages exist in traditional media

Current trends• Increasing focus on

mobile, mobile apps• 1 billion-plus app

downloads from Apple App Store

• Wearable tech: Google Glass

• Online deals and location-based services

Google Glass• Head-mounted device

that allows user to take photos, surf the web, record video, and perform other tasks

• Voice command• Limited availability

($1,500)• Usability, privacy worries

New technologyand the public• Innovators: first to acquire

new tech, before early adopters

• Early and late majority acquire new tech when it becomes popular

• Laggards are resistant

New frontiers• Open-source citizenry?

(Clay Shirky)• WWE offers Internet-

exclusive TV channel; more disruption for TV?

• What will be the next new thing, and what will be the next big flop?