“The convergent nature of media.”

Shannon O’Keefe.

It is first and foremost “different types of media being merged together due to the change in and progression of technology.”

What is media convergence?

Media companies – accelerating flow of content ->Consumers – increasing demand FOR content - >

“if your company is not alive on a social media, people will forget your company exists.”

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There are many positive opportunities for media convergence and they are happening everywhere on many different platforms

Opportunities because of it

TV for example is rapidly changing constantly now as technology keeps developing the way we view content, for example:

Most television channels now offer an on demand service or ‘catch up’ service online so views never have to miss an episode of their favourite programme, However many people do prefer the ‘good old fashioned’ method of television as some generations do find the internet confusing still, and sometimes causes a hassle for people

Like Kurt Scherf of Parks stated: “The computer isn't peoples first choice to view media, they prefer the traditional TV method.”

As Cheskin Research explained in a 2002 report, “The old idea of convergence was that all devices would converge into one central device that did everything for you. Your email needs and expectations are different, whether your are at home, work or school, these devices are designed to suit your needs for accessing content wherever you are.”

Cheskin.

‘Technology overload’ May be too much for some users to

handle Leaving older generations at risk as

they’ll be: Spending money they may not have And acquainting themselves with the

technology is un-needed stress.

Challenges facing media convergence

Many people, especially adults have caught up to this rising new fad in teenagers especially where they use the computer or internet devices more than they actually talk to people

Studies have shown a teenagers socialising is now 93% through the internet and just 7% talking to people outside of the internet.

38% of teenagers have said they have used ‘text speak’ (text shortcuts/anagrams) in school work such as LOL and BTW

The NEXT generation

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/nov/27/leveson-inquiry-national-newspapers

“This was quite possibly the worst week Britain’s tabloid press has ever enured”

The Leveson inquiry is a public inquiry set up by PM David Cameron against the phone hacking scandal led by News International in 2011, it is taken by Lord Justice Leveson, hence the name.

In 2007 News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were convicted or illegal interception of phone messages. According to the NOTW this was an isolated incident, but the Guardian claimed that evidence existed that this practice went way beyond Goodman and Mulcaire.

In 2011 after a civil settlement with actress Sienna Miller the Met Police set up a new investigation called Operation Weeting, this operation revealed later on that year that NOTW reporters had hacked the voicemail of murder victim Milly Dowler.

Leveson Inquiry

The Levison inquiry I felt was important to mention as it is a prime example of what you can do with media converging and how wrong it can sometimes be.

As there is increasing demands for ‘scoops’ (big stories) from editors, ‘self-generated’ stories have been on the rise and are largely untrue, lying in the press and intercepting phone calls and such like found in the Levison inquiry are illegal activities.

‘Fair Press’

Magazines and newspapers are clear examples of convergence you wouldn’t necessarily think of, as they are every day items, yet the free CD’s and posters in magazines aren't actually magazines, they are different forms of media, IN a magazine, meaning the two types of media are converging.

Even plugging the magazine or publications twitter username or Facebook page is converging as they are two different kinds of media put together to supposedly be more entertainment for the consumer.

Convergence wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t benefitting someone, and it isn't just ‘there for the consumer’, people put paid ads in magazines and all sorts similar, converging, whilst making a profit from it.

Magazines.

Syndication is companies and their expectation to produce better content for more platforms, with less staff, it is a complete grab at saving and gaining more money on their part.

Syndication

Television is impacted The way we receive news is impacted Consumerist culture is impacted Society is impacted by new technology relentlessly and

frequently being released This leads to a culture of ‘buy and bin’, where old

technology is traded for new Before this new wave of social media we would have to

wait for a newspaper to receive news, now you simply turn on your phone and go on a network like twitter and can find out whatever it is you want to know.

Impact on Society

Entertainment is a big one for convergence, this has a good and bad impact on society, the consumer is getting to experience a film or music in new ways, such as it being remastered onto Blu-ray ect

However now we are getting to the point where new technology has little to no difference on its previous ‘model’ or thing released before it, such as the difference between the iPhone 4 and 4s, and who REALLY needs Siri anyway? If you do you’ll have to pay through the nose for it compared to its predecessor .

Entertainment