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SCOM-110
Discussion Board #1
Topic: New Media
Consider the current and near-future impact of mobile computing devices, such as Apple’s iPad
and Amazon’s Kindle, and how we will consume media content. Then, respond to each of these
questions.
Q: Do these devices offer more consumer control and access or are we ceding some control over
the next evolution in media content to a few large media companies?
A: These devices open up a wide range of media sources for us to choose from. Instead of going
to a newsstand and having a limited number of newspapers or magazines to choose from, we can
access the internet via our tablets and have the ability to read almost any of these, including
periodicals from other countries.
Q: Do today’s evolving media content and mobility options increase or decrease the quality and
value of the media we have available to use as consumers?
A: I think that these options decrease the value of the media we have available. Reporters are
being forced to rush out stories and have less journalistic integrity because they are trying to sell
stories. I feel like facts are being checked less and articles are being rushed so that writers can
get news out before other people. People are getting used to having the news in front of them,
and finding out what’s happening, as it’s happening. Real-time journalism is not possible with
newspapers.
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Q: Some pundits want us to see–and either accept or resist–the emergence of web-based <new=
media as the eventual death of <old= media. However, history teaches us that innovations don’t
necessarily kill old media platforms–or do they? Television did not kill radio, the Internet is not
necessarily killing the feature film industry, the Internet has not killed the music industry–or has
it?
A: I think that the web based media could be the eventual death of old media. The new
generation growing up is used to getting a lot of their news through Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, or
other on-line sites while the older generation will eventually conform or die out. Philip Meyer,
author of <The Vanishing Newspaper= predicts that <by 2043 newspapers will be gone.=
Post your discussion by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday. You should reply to at least two classmates'
posts by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday. Compare/contrast your responses with the responses of
your classmates. What new ideas did your classmates present that have challenged your
thinking?
