Ch16 The Future of Mass Media

Life before and after New Media

• In the early 20th century, people relied on traditional media like newspapers, magazines, radio, and silent films for information and entertainment.
• Traditional media encompasses printed materials, broadcast communications, film, and music, while new media includes electronic games, the Internet, and social media.
• Video games, which were first popularized in the 1970s, have evolved from simple table-tennis simulators to complex, socially interactive experiences.
• The rise of the personal computer in the 1980s allowed for the development of more complex video games and enabled online role-playing games.
• The Internet has revolutionized the way we receive news, conduct business, and communicate, with a significant increase in Internet usage over the past two decades.
• The Internet has added a democratic dimension to communication, allowing anyone to become a publisher of online material and contribute ideas.
• Social media has numerous advantages, including instantaneous news distribution, diverse perspectives, and global communication.
• Despite the rise of new media, traditional media executives struggle to retain control over their content due to rapid technological developments.
• The music industry suffered significant financial losses due to peer-to-peer file sharing on platforms like Napster, impacting CD sales.
• While some predicted that the Internet would render print media obsolete, mass-media executives believe newspapers will evolve with the times.
• The Internet has transformed the way people work, allowing many jobs to be performed remotely and enabling virtual meetings and communication.
• New media technologies have bridged generational gaps and brought friends and families together through advanced gaming technology and social media.

Life before and after New Media

• In the early 20th century, people relied on traditional media like newspapers, magazines, radio, and silent films for information and entertainment.
• Traditional media encompasses printed materials, broadcast communications, film, and music, while new media includes electronic games, the Internet, and social media.
• Video games, which were first popularized in the 1970s, have evolved from simple table-tennis simulators to complex, socially interactive experiences.
• The rise of the personal computer in the 1980s allowed for the development of more complex video games and enabled online role-playing games.
• The Internet has revolutionized the way we receive news, conduct business, and communicate, with a significant increase in Internet usage over the past two decades.
• The Internet has added a democratic dimension to communication, allowing anyone to become a publisher of online material and contribute ideas.
• Social media has numerous advantages, including instantaneous news distribution, diverse perspectives, and global communication.
• Despite the rise of new media, traditional media executives struggle to retain control over their content due to rapid technological developments.
• The music industry suffered significant financial losses due to peer-to-peer file sharing on platforms like Napster, impacting CD sales.
• While some predicted that the Internet would render print media obsolete, mass-media executives believe newspapers will evolve with the times.
• The Internet has transformed the way people work, allowing many jobs to be performed remotely and enabling virtual meetings and communication.
• New media technologies have bridged generational gaps and brought friends and families together through advanced gaming technology and social media.

The Impact of Michael Jackson's Death on Media and Entertainment

• Michael Jackson's death was first reported on Twitter and TMZ before mainstream news sources confirmed it.
• The surge in online traffic due to the news temporarily shut down Twitter and caused an error message on Google.
• Major media outlets like CNN exercised caution and waited for official confirmation before reporting Jackson's death.
• TMZ's managing editor defended the site's credibility, claiming it was fact-based and not just a gossip site.
• The media coverage of Jackson's death led to a tabloid war and speculation about the cause of death and prescription drugs.
• Radio stations played back-to-back Jackson hits, leading to a significant increase in record sales.
• The book-publishing industry capitalized on Jackson's death, releasing numerous biographies and "tell-all" books.
• Jackson's autobiography, "Moonwalk," was re-released, and a posthumous film titled "This Is It" was commercially successful.
• The accompanying soundtrack album and DVD of "This Is It" were top sellers, generating substantial revenue.
• Forbes estimated that Jackson's estate made $90 million in gross earnings in the first 4 months after his death.
• Posthumous sales of Jackson's earlier material also contributed to the significant revenue generation.
• The impact of Jackson's death on media and entertainment industry was substantial, leading to a surge in sales and commercial success across various platforms.

The Impact of Modern Media on Society

• The lack of regulation on the internet leads to unreliability across various content, including news stories, Wikipedia articles, false advertising claims, and fraudulent activities.
• The NBC TV series Dateline: To Catch a Predator showcased police using internet chat rooms to catch potential child molesters by posing as young teens and setting up sting operations.
• The rapid transmission of information through modern media aids in apprehending criminals, as seen in cases like those featured on Dateline: To Catch a Predator.
• Modern media offers the advantage of quick dissemination of news and information through platforms like RSS feeds and major news outlets, enabling global access to breaking news.
• Access to an abundance of free information on the web is facilitated by monthly service providers, granting users access to various topics and news websites.
• Despite concerns about information overload causing psychological problems, statistics show that social media users have better offline social lives and gamers are better at absorbing and reacting to information.
• Online media delivery allows for a wider range of voices and perspectives, as nontraditional media like blogs and Twitter enable personal takes on current events and culture.
• Nontraditional media sources report on a wider variety of stories than traditional media, focusing on highly emotional and personalized subject matter that can be shared in social forums.
• Bloggers and social media users engage in discussions and debates, transforming audiences from passive consumers to active creators, turning knowledge into a social process.
• The internet also presents disadvantages, such as the circulation of misinformation and the inability of users to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.
• Even reputable news sources are prone to occasional errors, as seen in the case of fictional quotes added to composer Maurice Jarre's Wikipedia entry being picked up by newspapers worldwide.
• Many online sources have a strong ideological slant, with some leaning towards the left or right, raising concerns about the restriction of the movement of ideas.

The Rise of Real-Time Social Media

• Nowism is the term used to describe the trend of instant gratification achieved through real-time content on the web
• Twitter experienced exponential growth, with 75 million registered users and 10-15 million active tweeters by February 2010
• Facebook boasts over 400 million active users and was declared the web's most popular site in February 2010
• Facebook, initially for students, has developed into the world's largest social networking site, branching out into social gaming
• Social gaming generates revenue primarily from a small percentage of players, with 2% spending more than $25 a month
• Social games like FarmVille and Mafia Wars appeal to a wide demographic, particularly women over 40
• Social networking trends include microblogging on sites like Twitter, which is becoming the fastest source of news on the Internet
• Twitter has been used as a personal newswire, conveying information about world events in real time
• Businesses are realizing the power of Twitter for humanizing their brand and gathering valuable feedback from customers
• Celebrities like Ashton Kutcher have utilized Twitter for publicizing projects and raising awareness for charitable causes
• Kutcher's social media consultancy, Katalyst Films, focuses on generating revenue from entertainment content, advertising, and online conversation
• Digital experts predict social media will become more exclusive, with people filtering out clutter from unwanted sources

Privacy and Technology in the Workplace

• Two employees were fired for negative online comments about their workplace on a password-protected forum.
• The fired employees filed for unfair dismissal, claiming privacy violation under New Jersey law.
• A federal jury found the restaurant guilty of violating state and federal laws, awarding the employees $17,000 in damages.
• Companies increasingly use technology to monitor employees, citing financial pressure and ease of monitoring.
• Employers have the legal right to monitor all computer activity on company property.
• Social networking sites have faced criticism for privacy breaches, leading to government investigations and complaints.
• Facebook simplified its privacy settings but faced criticism for unintentional data sharing and privacy concerns.
• Google launched an encrypted search facility to protect Internet searches from interception.
• The encrypted search facility uses SSL for security but does not guarantee complete privacy.
• Congress is considering more regulation for social networking sites to protect people's privacy.
• The outcome of the New Jersey privacy case may influence the use of social networking sites outside of work.
• Employees are advised to exercise caution in their online activities and separate work and personal life.

Technology Adoption and Diffusion

• Researchers George Beal, Joe Bohlen, and Everett Rogers studied the adoption rate of hybrid seed among Iowa farmers to understand how farmers accept new ideas.
• The adoption process over time fit a normal growth curve pattern, with slow gradual, rapid, and leveling off rates of adoption.
• Personal and social characteristics influenced when farmers adopted the use of hybrid seed corn.
• In 1962, Everett Rogers generalized the technology diffusion model in his book "Diffusion of Innovations" based on the farming research.
• Rogers recognized five categories of participants in the technology adoption life cycle: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.
• The release of new technology follows the technology adoption life cycle, attracting innovators and early adopters first.
• Apple sold 120,000 iPads on the first day of its release in 2010, exceeding industry expectations.
• Mainstream consumers (early majority) were uncertain about the iPad's fit into their lives, leading to a cautious approach.
• Early adopters may validate the potential of new technology, helping mainstream users understand its uses.
• Technology adoption continues to roll along, picking up more mainstream consumers every year, according to Forrester Research.
• Companies frequently reduce the price of technological devices once the initial novelty wears off, as a result of competition or to retain market share.
• Some individuals, like John Uribe, are extremely resistant or unwilling to change, representing the late adopters in the technology adoption life cycle.