Feb
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The Effects of Convergence: Individuals v. Media Outlets
February 3, 2023 | Leave a Comment
We are currently in an era of rapid change; technology is rapidly evolving, and with it, society is evolving as well. And as Henry Jenkins points out, as technology changes and becomes easier to use, more and more individuals use said technology to spread their messages and influence cultural changes. And these individuals can do so across a wide variety of media platforms. Traditional media outlets are no longer in full control of the conversation; individuals can contribute their thoughts, expertise, and knowledge to online communities. In turn, these online communities can use their collective intelligence to change the dominant images in the mainstream media.
But while media outlets are no longer the dominant public image, they still contribute to the media landscape, and they are evolving alongside these technological advances. Now more than ever before are journalists expected to converge, use, and consistently update all the platforms of their industry: television, print, radio, and even social media. Today, journalists are having to adapt and learn new technologies to keep up with the changing media landscape and to keep the audience engaged. And so it is to be expected that future generations of journalists must be able to consistently learn, and be willing to learn, multiple new platforms for them to stay on top of the technological curve.