Modern media and communication

Definition of modern media and communication

Individuals communicate with each other, and each of them expresses his thoughts and feelings using a means of communication. To convey these implicit messages between the sender and the recipient, here lies the importance of understanding the communication process, its means, dimensions, role, impact, importance, and ways to develop and improve it.

When talking about means of communication and communication, it is necessary to define them, as they are: those tools and devices that are used; To transfer ideas, feelings, and opinions between the two sides of the communication process, and today the importance of these means is increasing, in conjunction with their multiplicity of forms and characteristics. For example, the Internet, as a modern means of communication, has contributed to changing the linear nature of traditional media, as modern means have enabled users to create their own content and exchange it among themselves, through social media and mobile phone applications. This multiplicity of means has been accompanied by, And the expansion of user segments, with an increasing diversity in forms of communication and created content, such as animated illustrations, video, Internet radio broadcasts, 3D display technology, and others.

These means have formed a new pattern of interaction between the sender and the recipient that allows both parties of the communication process to benefit from this communication in terms of the recipients’ ability to dialogue, express their opinion, and express it through various means. The sender has also begun to benefit from the opinions of the public, develop the census process, and improve the formulation of his messages. And the patterns of its presentation in a way that suits the requirements and desires of the audience. The mobile phone is considered one of the most widespread and widely used means of communication. Because of its ease of use at any time and in any place, with direct messaging capabilities via text messages, video, or voice calls, in addition to the applications it contains that provide unlimited communication and communication services.

As for the means of mass communication, they are: those that achieve communication with a large number of audiences and reach them in their various places, including: newspapers, radio, television channels, and cinema, as all of these mass means have undergone modification by increasing their spread and developing their experience with the Internet. And broadcasting via satellite. These means have renewed horizons in the speed of broadcasting and the development of the forms and contents of the interactive media content sent through them.

An overview of the development of means of communication and media

Man established his methods of communication a long time ago by engraving symbols on the walls of caves and forming rising columns of smoke. He did not give up his need for communication and information, so he hired carrier pigeons and trained them. To be a postal correspondence tool for an extended period of time, even during the two world wars: the first and the second, after which came the postal system, then paper newspapers in 1605 AD, which led to a boom in its production and an expansion of its spread. However, in the thirties of the nineteenth century, the world was on the verge of With the invention of the radio, then telegraph correspondence began in 1844 AD, which made way for the emergence of the telephone, until the activation of the fixed landline telephone service began in 1900 AD, and after several serious attempts, the television set was invented, which developed to broadcast in two colors: white and black, and it is worth noting. The term Internet began to appear in 1973 AD, after the invention of the computer in the fifties of the twentieth century. The global Internet network was launched in 1991 AD, and in 1994 AD, platforms for receiving and sending e-mail, and search engines over the Internet began to be established, and achievements continued with the ability to send messages. Text, then the emergence of social media, which helped widen the door of communication since Facebook was created in 2004 AD, followed by Twitter just two years later, and social media today is still competing to be at the forefront of the scene of its merit; To express the characteristic of human communication regardless of people’s languages, places, beliefs, and desires.

New media and its means

New media is distinguished from traditional media by its means. The new media depends on the computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone, while the traditional media depends on television, newspapers, and radio. Therefore, the new media is given a group of names, namely: digital media, interactive media, multimedia media, hypermedia, and others. As for the elements of the new media, they are: the computer, the Internet, and multimedia, as by the integration of these elements, it is achieved. Producing an advanced communication process based on means that provide various options for presentation, participation, and instantaneous interaction. This would pave the way for greater diversity in news transmission and editing services, with the possibilities of immediate interaction between the sender and the recipient.

New media is taking a more interactive and clear form with the passing days. Because of its capabilities in terms of ease of processing, modification, storage, and the possibility of retrieval or search again, these capabilities are multiplied by the new media, including:

Blogs

Blogs are considered one of the oldest new media outlets, but they still keep pace with recently developed media outlets, through which read, audio, and visual content is shared. This content can also be classified according to specific categories, and it is also an interactive environment among those interested in the content published on it.

Augmented virtual reality technology

This technology is designed; For more sensory interaction that the recipient feels when the content is presented to him; Through advanced audio and visual techniques, an event or place can be simulated. To make the recipient feel as if he is part of the situation, it is an experience that immerses the user with the interaction of the largest possible number of his senses, imagination, and mind, in addition to the 360-degree comprehensive vision technology. These technologies are used in videos and games, and they are also seen as a promising future in the development of new media. Which takes it to a new stage that constitutes a different experience at all levels.

Social media

It is considered one of the most common methods; Because of its characteristics that allow the user to participate and interact instantaneously with new events, opinions, and positions in a scene that enables the user to be the sender and the recipient at the same time in accordance with the interactive structure on which these sites are designed; Therefore, the average user of these sites spends approximately 1.72 hours browsing them during one day, and it is likely that the future of new media will be more closely linked to social media platforms, especially if they are integrated with other means, such as virtual reality technology, or the like.

Electronic newspapers

They are similar to blogs in the nature of their composition, the interaction mechanism in them, and the form and content of the content presented on them, except that the focus in them is on news of all kinds, and users of social networking networks have contributed to its superiority over traditional newspapers in terms of its spread and the extent of its demand, as well as in directing advertisers to... Redouble their focus on the electronic field; With the aim of promoting their products, which contributed to a decrease in advertising revenues in print newspapers, and doubled them in electronic newspapers, and this is an indication of a shift in the public’s interests.

video games

That means that is seen as designed; For fun and entertainment, it is, in one way or another, an influencing factor and the foundation of a daily media culture that places users within a virtual world, with its own policies, culture, and customs.

Phenomena accompanying the spread of new media

New media has produced a number of phenomena emerging from the widespread interest in using these means from various groups and segments of society, and among these phenomena are the following:

• Reducing the monopoly of major institutions on news, and the emergence of new and diverse platforms. To express an opinion, every person can send and receive news, and participate in commenting on it wherever he is, at any time, and without the media institution or news agencies necessarily being part of that process, as the public has become responsible for a large part of the communication process among themselves. This is called (the phenomenon of the public informing the public).
• Making space available to non-specialists; To exercise the role of (citizen journalist), as this contributed to the emergence of more diverse and creative cultural and media contents and forms.
• Shedding light on issues not covered by traditional media outlets, which increases pressure on traditional media outlets and may affect their editorial policies.
• The formation of social networking networks into virtual communities that bring together their issues, interests, and dialogues, without restrictions of place, time, identity, or affiliation. This establishes the formation of a flexible, quickly activating interactive environment, with the least amount of obstructing determinants.
• Show the topic of specialized media; The phenomenon of fragmentation of audiences consists of broad audiences, into small factional audiences, united by one platform, within a specific framework, and a media discourse that takes into account these groups and targets them.

The roles of the media and its impact on the individual and society

Society's interactions vary with what it is exposed to by following various media outlets, but the influence on the public is almost inevitable depending on its percentage and manifestations, knowing that what media outlets must do today is to build and maintain trust with the public, so that the content presented to the public is linked to development. The truth to them, in its various forms; The media is an influential element in war, peace, education, unemployment, eradicating illiteracy, classism, and rejecting racism. For all this reason, media content makers must accept to be personally and morally responsible for everything they provide to society. Because people's decisions and opinions depend in some way on the information and facts they receive through means of communication and the media, it is possible to ignore some facts, prolong conflicts, or resolve them. Therefore, these unfair media campaigns can be confronted through society’s awareness, informing it, educating its youth, and activating their roles in promoting society and promoting its opinion, decisions, and principles.

Benefits of media and communication

The potential harm resulting from the negative use of media and communication can be confronted by competing with it through positive and beneficial use of it, as there are many benefits that enable young people and adolescents to invest in the Internet in a way that brings them advancement, including the following:

• The Internet provides an open world to its users. Searching the Internet saves time and effort, as it provides almost unlimited resources and provides various answers related to complex issues, which leads to the development of talent and the ability to use the Internet, knowing that schools and universities realize the importance of activating this role and establish; To build a disciplined and conscious interaction in students’ use of the Internet and modern means of communication.
• Many websites and programs provide real opportunities for distance learning, and enable the student to achieve fun and benefit, using illustrative means, animation, competitions, and even video games, some of which are designed; For educational purposes, it is a gateway; To develop skills and refine talents, it is worth noting that the winner is the one who invests these resources first, does not accept to waste his time in what does not benefit him, and is interested in achieving achievements that raise his level and bring him closer to his ambitions.