ALJ301

I enjoy reading the newspaper. I love reading books and papers – anything in hard copy.

Media convergence is unstoppable. The e-reading states, ‘Convergence offers a way to satisfy… to reach multiple audiences.’ The younger generation today are able to access news fast and easily, and the speeds of the internet are only increasing.

I see media convergence like this:

Pros.

• Easy access (e.g. one company website supplies all types of media).
• Quicker access
• Audiences can pick and choose what they see/read.

Cons.

• The current generation is creating a busier and more stressful environment for themselves. (No more lazy Saturday or Sunday mornings reading the paper.)
• Traditional ‘newspapers’ are becoming the past. It is generally expected they will eventually disappear.

I’m the type of person who loves both past and present. I love playing with old cameras and reading old style newspapers… but I also love new gadgets. (E.g. I just bought one of the new media phones with a five mega pixel camera.)

The e-reading states that when the Simons family was addressing convergence, they asked, ‘How can we better serve the community?’ (pp. 21). Convergence is suited to the current populations’ information needs. These people want fast and easy, not ink on their fingers.