Media Technology

There are a variety of forms of media we use every day. Over time, the forms have changed to adapt to new technology or new trends. The Internet has played a huge role in the adaption of media technologies. This post will focus on forms of media used to disperse news, provide entertainment, and encourage networking. Some of these forms of media are: radio, print (such as newspapers and magazines), television, and social media like Facebook and Twitter. Social media is a product of the Internet and the other three forms I mentioned have been adapted to the Internet.

Through the first half of the 20^th Century most people probably relied on radio and print media to receive their news and to stay informed of current events. Then television was introduced, which allowed people to hear and see the anchors who were providing the news updates. Although television was a marked improvement that quickly became part of people’s homes, radio has not gone away. People have radios in their vehicles, and normally have them in their homes as well. Technology continued to adapt as the Internet gained widespread use. Online radio outlets like Pandora are hugely popular, especially among people who want to personalize the type of music played on a certain station and who do not want to listen to commercials.

One appeal to radio is the option to listen to local radio stations. This can be an effective way for people to stay abreast of current events in their area. Many people, such as my mother, enjoy talk show radio for listening to political commentators or to listen to sermons. The convenience of being able to listen to the radio while driving or even while doing yard work or tinkering in the garage is another reason radio will probably continue to remain in use. Aside from entertainment purposes, radio has a practical implementation too. Many people keep emergency battery operated radios in their homes in preparation for natural disasters or simply for a power outage. Radio will probably remain firmly entrenched in our society for some time.

Most major print media outlets have websites so their newspapers or magazines can be viewed online. This is good. As printed media slowly dwindles, people are still able to receive news articles from media outlets they trust, and they have the convenience of being able to access them from their cell phones, laptops, or work computers. The transition to online publication is an environmentally healthy development as well. A reduction in printed media means a lesser demand for lumber. The trickle-down effect here means that as fewer trees are harvested, less fuel is expended transporting lumber to be processed. As smaller amounts of paper are produced, less environmental pollutants are produced as byproducts of the process. Lastly, the environmental impact of transporting and disposing of paper waste is reduced as well. The advent of online print publications is a beautiful thing.  

Another way that print media has adapted to technology to allow itself to remain relevant is through the use of ‘apps’ that can be downloaded to smartphones. I enjoy being able to read the news, but I do not have a newspaper delivered to my home, and I do not always have access to a computer while at work. Fortunately, I have a New York Times application on my phone so I can peruse top news articles at my leisure. The best part is that it is free! The transition to a paperless system of news delivery will allow electronic print media to continue to play an important role in the way people receive their news.

One of the primary ways people stay aware of current events is by watching television. Television is also probably one of the top entertainment outlets for individuals too. Although I rarely watch television, it is a part of most of my friends’ and coworkers’ daily lives. News stations have also adapted to technology by creating websites where news videos and articles can be viewed at leisure. This is a convenience earlier generations did not have. People who work late or who work odd hours can still watch the news. Technology has also made it easier to receive live coverage of remote areas where current events are taking place. Every year, globalization makes the world seem just a little bit smaller, and constant news updates from around the world are one of the reasons for that. One downside to the ready access of news is a sensory overload. It can be hard to keep track of everything that is happening, and it is possible to become desensitized to the constant bombardment of news. With so much news available, it can also be difficult to pick through it all to find what is relevant or worth following. So much of it is just fluff. Technology has also led to a blending of television with the Internet. If a person misses an episode of a particular show that they normally watch, they can often find it online, whether through Netflix or some other program. It seems that the recurring them with media technology is the convenience factor.

Social media is the newest of these four forms of media. The earliest form I knew about was the social media website MySpace. Over time, MySpace fell out of popularity and was replaced by Facebook. Initially, Facebook was intended solely for use by college students, but it has gradually expanded and now anyone can have a Facebook page. Although I do not think Facebook will go away any time soon, I do think it will eventually be replaced by newer social media platforms. My instructor (and also one of my bosses at work) pointed out to me that the younger generation is not as enthralled by Facebook as the rest of us seem to be. It will be interesting to watch what sort of platform comes long as the next big thing.

One of the biggest impacts the Internet has had on media, and what makes social media unique, is that it is interactive.

“…traditional forms of mass media typically enable one-way communication that does not allow direct feedback from receivers of the messages. That is, these media are not interactive. When we read a book or a magazine, listen to the new CD we just bought, or turn on the television, there is no way to use those media to directly respond to the mes­sages we have received” (Croteau, Hoynes & Milan, 2012, “Media Society,” p. 288).

People can keep in touch with friends, family and coworkers through Facebook. It is common for readers to be able to post responses to news stories posted online, allowing for greater discussion between readers. As news outlets have embraced Facebook, it is not uncommon for me to see news stories shared on Facebook. Businesses and professional organizations have also joined the trend by creating Facebook profile pages.

The audiences of media technologies are varied but broad. One of the biggest appeals of it is convenience. Most people I know use the Internet daily and have a Facebook profile. Aside from that, one unifying characteristic of these audiences is at least a basic understanding of the newer technology, and of course, an access to it. Not everyone has a computer or Internet access. For some that could be due to economic circumstances; for others it could be a choice.

References

Croteau, D., Hoynes, W., Milan, S. (2012) Media Society. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Hello

 

Hi my name is Stuart and this is my first blog. It is an assignment for my final course with Ashford University. When I have completed my degree in Communication Studies I hope to become a public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy. For now I plan to work on this blog for my class, and I will post updates about my life from time to time.

When I am not working or doing school work I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. I just moved to the Baltimore area and I was pleasantly surprised to find out there are some awesome hiking trails in the area.

Right now I am enlisted as a mass communication specialist in the Navy. My job encompasses photography, newswriting, videography and graphics work. I love my job and the unique opportunities it has provided me with. Although I just transferred to the area, I am hoping to be accepted into the Navy's officer candidate school, which would mean moving again in the near future. Maybe I'll get stationed in California or Japan! Who knows! I will go wherever the Navy needs me.