Week 2 Readings-- CC Chapter 6

Convergence Culture---Chapter 6

The Internet and new media have changed culture and institutions both directly and indirectly. In the past the general population had to wait for information to be delivered through the media. Now most people can go online and seek information whenever they want to. Before the Internet institutions basically decided what, when, and how the general public would receive information. Now with Internet access, when someone is curious about a news item or issue, they can search for information on their own. They can also join Internet communities that will keep them informed on areas of interest. By signing up for something like RSS feeds and Google alerts, information will be sent directly to the person. On the other hand, people can continue to receive information from previous news sources which is probably getting to them faster due to the Internet also.

Education is also changing due to the Internet and new media. It seems in some areas it seems to e progressing more rapidly than others. In some areas Internet access is limited due to blocks on district servers, so while in school students do not have complete access, as they do at home. Even though complete access is blocked students are able to access sites for research rapidly at school, and they are able to continue to work on assignments at home.

New media convergence will definitely effect politics in the future. Right now I think people are able to be informed faster and seek information differently, but until the majority of the population relies on the Internet for communication, it will not effect politics as quickly as one might hope. I am a prime example. I had no idea what was going on during the past election on the Internet, and I have used the Internet more in the past 9 months than I ever have. My focus has mainly been on completing this program, and not other areas of interest, so I remained clueless. After reading Jenkins’ book Convergence Culture, I discovered things that were happening that I had no idea about over the Internet. I am convinced media convergence is happening, however, people are still unaware of the realm of possibilities it offers. 

Internet Photo by Ben Dodson. Retrieved on June 15, 2009 at http://search.creativecommons.org/#

Pony Express Statue Photo by jc/pics. Retrieved on June 2009 at http://search.creativecommons.org/#