Media convergence refers to the blending of old and new media where different platforms can be used to access the same content. There are five types of convergence: social/organic where people can multitask with different media; cultural where media can be viewed on different platforms; economic where companies use old and new media to sell merchandise; global where media incorporates different cultures; and technological where old media is digitized like books becoming ebooks.
2. What is Media Convergence?
๏ Convergence is where old and new media are
incorporated into a single specific piece of work.
๏ For example new digital devices such as Mobile
phones, desktops, game consoles, etc. can be used to
access the internet.
3. Henry Jenkins
๏ Henry Jenkins suggest that we are entering a media
convergence were old and new media will collide, and
in some cases we see that for example the Game Guitar
hero has old media (the guitar) incorporated into a
new media (console).
๏ Jenkins also suggest that there will never be a โ Black
Boxโ which will contain all media information, maybe
he is referring to the internet as the box and that there
will be new sources in the near future
4. Social or Organic Convergence
๏ This is were the consumer can multitasks with their
media. For example the consumer could be watching
TV and be on the internet checking their emails.
5. Global Convergence
๏ Is when the media contains other cultures with in it.
For example a soap may show someone's religion and
culture background, maybe through music
This films shows how Sikh religion
Conflicts with western culture.
6. Economic convergence
๏ Is basically were large companies use old and new
media to their advantage by selling merchandise, or
the rights of the product.
๏ For example Daniel Radcliffe makes more money off
the merchandise of Harry Potter than the actual films
and Harry Potter in its self was old media made into
new media.
๏ Comic books such as Spiderman has also gone under
the same route as selling merchandise than eventually
making a film
7. Cultural Convergence
๏ Is when media can be viewed
or experienced on different
platforms, such as a film/ TV
show being watched on a TV,
Computer through
downloading or streaming,
Games consoles etc.
8. Technological Convergence
๏ This is where old media is being digitalized. For
example books being turned into EBooks
๏ Another example is most modern DVD players are
capable of playing CDs and different formats of DVDs
or CDs
9. Summary
๏ Media convergence is happening right now and is
increasing
๏ There are 5 different types of convergence, Social or
Organic, Cultural, Economic, Global and
Technological
