ALJ301

The first of my blogs will cover convergence. Or from what i can gather the coming together of different forms of media to inform the general public in an area, like a city.

Firstly according to studies in ALJ301, the newspaper will soon be a median of the past. By 2010 it will be a “niche” form of information for those who choose to read them. Statistics do support this, but i am not convinced that this is the case. While numbers are not rising in daily circulations they are not dwindling away as some may suggest. The obvious counter is the rise and rise of internet news and its becoming more and more available everyday. This is where the convergence of media is playing its part.

Having access to news from many different sources could be a waste of time if they are all saying the same thing. If one media organisation eg: Newscorp owns 80% of the media in a city then we are unlikely to hear any bad news regarding any of Mr Murdoch’s billions of dollars wrapped up in millions of companies. This is where individual newspapers will thrive, in telling the real news and not sugar coating it to keep the boss happy.    

Until recently in Australia owning a TV license and a newspaper in the one Australian city has not been allowed. Much to the dismay of media moguls Packer and Murdoch, but with recent law changes and rules relaxed papers and TV stations are allowed to combine, and with this comes great power and while it may mean more coverage, i think it will only mean more quantity but far less quality!