New Media Worlds: Challenges for Convergence

Using a combination of case study materials, theoretical reflection, and critical analysis, New Media Worlds explores four central issues for the study of new media and their impact on user communities:

· The Impact of Convergence on Traditional Media: The text explores the implications of media convergence for everyday media use and for the policy context.

· Activism: Case studies investigate how user communities with special access needs are ensuring they are not denied access to the emerging world of media.

· Access: Overviews of controversial issues introduce the debate as to which social and cultural groups most benefit from new media policies.

· Participation: The text examines how media modifications structure audience perception.

Features

· Discusses the media activism of indigenous communities, people living with disabilities, people confronted by crisis situations, urban youth groups, and local communities.

· Addresses a unique combination of issues, including audience, policy, and regulatory and industry analysis.

· Emphasizes the way changes in the media are experienced by various audiences.

· Challenges the view that social networking is an inherently democratizing force by showing the challenges of policy, equal access, and participation for all users.

· The useful pedagogical framework facilitates classroom discussion and debate.