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.