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Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Suleyman Demirel University

Pros and cons of Media Convergence

Prepared by: Guldana Zhumazhanova

Journalism, 4A

Checked by: Berdak Bayimbetov

Almaty, 2012

Contents

Convergence is the process where several media channels come together to exists and operate in synergy or rather in harmony. A convergence is basically seen in every person's cell phone, glance down at your palm and there sits a device that can click a photograph, edit and modify the same and also send it like a mail. There are countless examples that can be found and with the advancement of time and technology manufacturers of technology are engaged in a race to manufacture devices that have a maximum number of media converged within them.

Three media channels are currently the focal point of the media convergence journey. First, the print media that has started laying a certain emphasis on the Internet-based outlets, the slowly depleting line in between the television and the computer and the slowly reducing line in between the computers and the cell phones. Some decades from henceforth, we might be walking with gadgets in our hands that are fast and intelligent than the super computers, have better connectivity than the cell phones and can be used as televisions and newspapers. Well, fact is technology is acting as a super catalyst in the convergence race.

It is quite literally the convergence of media or in other words the confluence of different media through the use of technology. A simple example being that music player is a medium for listening to music but the convergence of media allows the same music to be enjoyed using different media like the mobile, internet, etc. convergence media audience advertising

Different forms of language have always helped mankind to communicate, may it be a crude symbol written language or may it be a very sophisticated language like Latin, Greek or Sanskrit. The media for these communication channels has always been varied. In the initial times, mimicry and acting with some symbolic language and drawings on surfaces were the only medium through which people communicated. From these humble beginnings mankind has accepted and consistently developed new means of media. The chronology is vast and printing books from the printing press, periodic papers, newsletters, radio, television, telephones and finally the Internet are some of the essential stepping-stones in the journey. Today there are several media channels which are being used by the people as revolution which is bringing all of them together.

2. Media Convergence and Society

There are a considerable number of effects of convergence on society. Media convergence is something that impacts us all down to our everyday life and such has become the way of life that society adapts and changes accordingly. Fact is, convergence of media indeed effects us in everyday life. First we started only with written letter, then we proceeded to the ones that were typed on a typewriter, followed by the Fax and email, to the point where we now send a video or voice mail. Now, the pinnacle of convergence would be where an illuminated graphical figure would pop out of our gadgets to deliver a mail, orally, or graphically.

It goes without saying that media convergence is a speedy process affecting our careers too. It is getting more and more competitive out there as one needs to start learning the converged technology as soon as it appears. Not only this but entire offices and distances in two places have shrunk. Papers are slowly disappearing from officers and certain slow working tools such as pens and typewriters are also disappearing. A suitable example is that of the people who are in media jobs, as convergence demands versatility in jobs of the media personnel.

3. Media Convergence: Conflicting Opinions Advantages & Disadvantages of Media Convergence

The question as to whether media convergence is good or bad is more complicated debate than it seems. One claims that the convergence promotes cooperation between journalists, and gives the people a sense that the media is a part of the community. On the other hand, when others say that convergence does not improve the news, but homogenizes it, giving no diversity of coverage.

As you pointed out, there are pros and cons to the convergence. Positive outcomes could include big media being able to cover and report more news and information, and also to build community between the different types of media.

However, the negatives will have a much larger impact if big media ownership is allowed. As you point out, there will be no diversity in the media. The opinions and voices of only a select group-old, wealthy white men-will only be heard in all types of media, and they will be the ones deciding what is important for the public to know. Another result is the loss of local media since they won't be able to cover as much and compete with big media. And local news and information will be lost since it will not be important enough to those select voices.

Media convergence has become a vital element of life for many people. With the development of technology in different platforms and operations such as television, Internet and mobile communication, audiences have had both a bigger choice of media and a life which media technologies has made easier. However, one question needed to be asked whether or not media convergence bring opportunities and challenges to the industry and society itself.

On the one hand, in term of industry, with the development of technology, the cost of products and software was lowered. Instead of having different news crews for every medium, one converged media operation can use the same reporters and staff to produce stories for, television, telecommunication and Internet mediums. By combining each medium's resource, a converged operation can increase the quality of its product. As a result satisfaction of customer is increased, which leads to a larger audience. From the public's standpoint, the increased convenience of information provided by converged stories makes using the media a better experience.

Beside, in term of society especially, media convergence causes the fragmentation of audiences for news. Nowadays, people talk about not having enough time to everything they want in a day or doing more than one thing at one time. Convergence lead the media is more interactive and audience participation is encouraged. In addition, greater audience engagement can help to enhance the way people experience the media. Moreover, with the interactive World Wide Web, audiences are able to download and share music, video, photo via social networking and become media produce.

On the other hand, media convergence bring many challenges . Audiences complain about information overload and they can be overwhelmed and find it difficult. Furthermore, the rapidly changing of technology has obstructed audience's activities. People lack of skill to take full advantage of new media especially old people and disable. So will an audience so used to traditional forms of media embrace a new way of receiving information. In addition, media companies pursue audiences by greater benefit from marketing and advertising through cross-selling.

References

1. http://www.slideshare.net/guldanazhumazhan/savedfiles?s_title=media-convergence-8882285&user_login=IIvankovic

2. charlie3004.blogspot.com/2010/.../pros-and-cons-of-technological.html

3. www.buzzle.com/articles/what-is-media-convergence.html

4. mconvergence.wordpress.com/

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