Dichotomy of traditional and new media

N.B. – Allow me to share with you my answers to emailed questions sent by a Bangkok-based researcher who is doing a study of the impact of new media on Philippine media organizations.

What do you think of new media?

New media are only “new” in the sense that technological improvements have brought about convergence of major attributes of what are now referred to as the “traditional” forms of mass media. These attributes (permanence for print; immediacy for radio; audio-visual for TV) may be seen in new media, but one should note that the nature of new media prevents it from totally appropriating them. For example, the permanence of print is not dependent on external factors like bandwidth limitations, server downtime, software and hardware malfunctions that may affect access to the Internet. But what is remarkable for new media is the interactivity it can provide to online users, not to mention the cross-platform compatibility in accessing selected content from the Internet like RSS feeds, not to mention the use of various devices in accessing the Internet itself.

What do you think is the purpose of new media?

Just like other forms of mass media, the new media’s purpose is to inform, educate, entertain and act as agents of social change. The so-called creation of consumers’ needs is borne out of the gatekeepers’ agenda to profit from the use of mass media.

Which form of new media do you find popular or useful for policy makers, opinion shapers? Is it the cellphone or the Internet, particularly websites, blogs and social networking sites?

Web 2.0 is for now the most popular though there is nothing that prevents the emergence of other so-called killer aps in the near future. Interactivity and accessibility through various devices seem to be the key to delivering more effectively one’s message on the Internet. As far as websites are concerned, social networking sites like Facebook seem to enjoy popularity among various audiences, and such websites are used for reasons both personal and political.

What do new media offer that the old or traditional media cannot offer?

The old or traditional media have very limited convergence among them. By its very nature, print cannot appropriate radio and TV attributes. However, radio and TV can have simultaneous broadcast, and there are TV sets that have radio functions in them. New media can have convergence in the sense that it can provide both the printed word and streaming audio/video. Interactivity may be present in all forms of media, but the new media provides a more immediate and convenient ways for online users to provide feedback.

What is the target audience of new media on Internet? How much impact can it do to the social and political set up of the country? Is there any possibility that the new media would alter the power structure in the country? How many years down the road?

The new media’s audiences are basically online users who are both computer-savvy and Internet-savvy. It can tilt the power structure even in Third World countries like the Philippines by providing quick, up-to-date and relevant information. Texting, for example, was pivotal in overthrowing the Estrada regiime in 2001. The same is true for unfolding developments abroad, as in the case of Burma and India where repression and terrorist attacks were documented first by YouTube and Twitter and broadcast networks had to take the cue from such websites.

Can we say that the new media are confined to from middle class up? Does new media then perpetuate the current political and economic structure or even deepen the class divide?

There is an exponential increase in Internet and computer use in the Philippine, and I think the same case applies to most other countries. However, the limited purchasing power of Filipinos deprives them of maximizing the opportunities that new media technologies can offer. In this respect, the middle and ruling classes have that advantage.

What is the purpose of mainstream media putting up presence on the Web? What benefit can they get out of it?

The traditional media in the Philippines need Web presence given their adherence to globalization, not to mention the need to reach out to Filipino abroad. Through their Web presence, they could earn more by actively promoting the print or broadcast organizations they have.

What benefit would dissent or cause-oriented groups get from new media? What are their needs that can be better served by new media?

Cause-oriented groups should see the new media only as one of the many venues in the struggle for social change. I still believe that despite advances in technology, the so-called traditional forms of, say, face-to-face interaction and street protesting are still very much needed to physically and literally show the strength in numbers,among other considerations.

What kind of relationship does new media have with the old media in terms of news cycle and discussion groups?

The relationship can be described as symbiotic. The old needs the new, while the new needs the media projection that can be provided by the old.

How widespread is the existence of netizens in the country? How much power do they have, if any?

They are growing exponentially. The power that bloggers and texters wield are apparent, which is why they should responsibly exercise them. There are several issues that spread the blogosphere first and were picked up by mainstream media later.

Has new media affected governance, democratization and people empowerment?

It has but only in the sense that government agencies now have websites that should provide pertinent information to people. The operative term here is “should” because new media are also used for misinformation and deception especially by the powers-that-be. Democratization and empowerment can never be achieved through any technologies as the people who control them can still use the latter to suit their own ends.

Which of the new media can be categorized as best for information dissemination, mass mobilization, fund raising or propaganda?

The cellular phone is relatively more ubiquitious than PCs, laptops and other expensive gadgets in the Philippines, so that, by default, can be the best for information dissemination. With regard to websites, social networking sites like Facebook and Friendster are still the way to go to reach out to Filipino online users globally.

Are we better off with new media? Are they unnecessary evils?

Media, whether old or new, are neither good nor bad. It depends on how they are used, misused and abused.

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