What is New Media?

Though “new” media seems like it can be defined by specifying a time period, it isn’t really that easy. What defines new media is the wave of new forms of communications that has impacted the world. The 5 C’s does an adequate job of describing new media. First and foremost, communication has been the primary running theme in new media. Unlike old media, which was normally just one-way communication (people telling you things), new media allows for two-way communication or more. For example, websites of old media would simply present you content, and you would either take it or leave it. In new media, people present content, and you would have the ability to either change it or respond to it.

In certain forms of new media, people are able to collaborate on projects. For example, wikis allow everyone to contribute useful information to a project, tweaking things to perfection. Because people love to show off their knowledge, anyone who can help will help. Having environments in which anybody is able to voice their opinions or thoughts is a defining characteristic of new media.

Another theme in new media is community. In old media, people would just post up whatever they wanted for people to see. In new media, there are now forums for groups of people of similar interests to gather and share. This is especially prominent in video game cultures, where people who play a certain game gather together to discuss strategies and other aspects of the game.

Because of all this collaboration and communication within communities, much creativity has been spawned. As people come up with different ideas, other people who see these ideas are inspired and influenced to create new and even more innovative ideas. Convergence is also another factor when discussing new media. Because of the technology of new media, companies can no longer stick to their old guns if they want to survive. They must learn how to speak to the new audience in a genuine “voice, free from censorship and corporate review” (Barbaro, 2008). That is why journalistic companies, previously focused on newspapers, are now focusing on blogs in order to “establish two-way communication between established media and readers, allowing readers to interact with journalists and news organizations” (Gill, 2004). Corporations that had invested heavily in old media must converge with new media in order to be successful.

What comes of this is that new media is media where many people work together and expand their horizons. Unlike old media, new media is about different points of view, and exploring other perspectives and viewpoints.

Barbaro, Michael. "Wal-Mart Tastemakers Write Unfiltered Blog." New York Times 3 Mar. 2008.

Gill, Kathy E. "How Can We Measure the Influence of the Blogosphere?" May 2004. June 2009
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