Media Convergence Policy Issues

Abstract

Digital technologies are frequently said to have converged. This claim may be made with respect to the technologies themselves or to restructuring of the media industry over time. Innovations that are associated with digitalization (representing analogue signals by binary digits) often emerge in ways that cross the boundaries of earlier industries. When this occurs, technologies may be configured in new ways and the knowledge that supports the development of services and applications becomes complex. In the media industries, the convergence phenomenon has been very rapid, and empirical evidence suggests that the (de)convergence of technologies and industries also needs to be taken into account to understand change in this area. There is a very large literature that seeks to explain why convergence and (de)convergence phenomena occur. Some of this literature looks for economic and market-based explanations on the supply side of the industry, whereas other approaches explore the cultural, social, and political demand side factors that are important in shaping innovation in the digital media sector and the often unexpected pathways that it takes. Developments in digital media are crucially important because they are becoming a cornerstone of contemporary information societies. The benefits of digital media are often heralded in terms of improved productivity, opportunities to construct multiple identities through social media, new connections between close and distant others, and a new foundation for democracy and political mobilization. The risks associated with these technologies are equally of concern in part because the spread of digital media gives rise to major challenges. Policymakers are tasked with governing these technologies and issues of privacy protection, surveillance, and commercial security as well as ensuring that the skills base is appropriate to the digital media ecology need to be addressed. The complexity of the converged landscape makes it difficult to provide straightforward answers to policy problems. Policy responses also need to be compatible with the cultural, social, political, and economic environments in different countries and regions of the world. This means that these developments must be examined from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and need to be understood in their historical context so as take both continuities and discontinuities in the media industry landscape into account.

Convergent Media, Content of Diversity and Contemporary Consumers

“…Liputan6.com has 14 heading features: (1) Liputan6.com website facilitate its visitors with highlights of popular topics on the main page that help their consumer to be directly updated to the news that is of public interest. The term of the heading features emphasizes a more personal and emotional aspect that resembled of human interest, for example using the term "soccer" which is closer to the fans, rather than the general term "sports".…”

“…As earlier discussion, media convergence made possible by technology, allows the content in one media to be passed on to consumers through a variety of different media through various distribution channels [1] to reach their consumers. On the other hand, multiplatform media is not parallel with content diversification.…”

“…The development of media convergence has become a concern for academics, as well as bringing up various studies and literature, especially those aimed at exploring the impact of its existence on the media industry [1]. Historically, media convergence has always brought a shift in the media era, such as the development of the newspaper era due to the convergence of print and photography media, or the television era resulting from the convergence of audio, visual, and broadcasting.…”

“…As explained earlier, media convergence is not only a matter of technology, but as a cornerstone of contemporary information society, media convergence also deals with cultural, social, economic, etc. This shows that the development of media convergence must be studied from various perspectives and understood in its historical context, including its continuity and discontinuity in the landscape of the media industry [1].…”

“…Media convergence supported by new technology allows the same content to flow to consumers through a variety of different channels that are ubiquitous and in various forms that can touch the point of consumer perception [2]. Digital content packaging is sent to the public through various distribution channels [1]. Thus, the media industry players can reach their consumers through various channels, in various forms of content that make consumers netted into the tactics of offering messages.…”