New media and digitalisation
writes Akib Bin Anwar | Saturday, 16 April 2011
writes Akib Bin Anwar
Media is an important element of modern concept of state. It has a great role in world politics as well as globalization, geopolitics and security functions. In Bangladesh perspective new media is an important component of digitalisation process. The concept of new media came from the use of computer, technologies and internet in networking system. With the contribution of new media, the reflection of mass people becomes easier and faster. It adds a new milestone in the realm of media and communication. As a result, communication among general people becomes faster and effective. Through the use of internet based new media it is easy to communicate and contribute in every sector. Security system can be enriched by the proper use of new media. As a result, the geopolitics will become related and strengthened by new media. The term new media is a new concept. It is a broader concept than the traditional concept of media. The term new media encompasses both traditional media such as music, film, images, documents and documentaries and computer based communication systems and technologies with the internet connection. Traditional concept of media is a narrow concept. The traditional concept denotes only the electronic media such as TV and radio; and print media such as newspapers or books or journals. But the concept of new media basically throws light on the large arena of media based on online connection. Basic difference with traditional media is that the new media can continue to function any time any place and on any digital device. So, new media means internet based media for connecting mass people. The basic characteristic of new media is its online nature. It can be termed as e-media or digital media. Facebook, Youtube and Twitter etc are the appropriate examples of new media. It is important that news be placed in right time, right place and right way. Only new media can perform the best in these categories. Another important thing is that the new media perform with digitalization method. It digitalizes the total content into bites. These are also unavoidable character of new media. New media can be summarised as digital media with technology. Historically any change or new concept is emerged by fine arts and painting. The concept of new media also emerged in 1960 by arts. From 1960, connection between computing and radical art began. This concept developed in 1980 when a different kind of parallel relationship emerged between social change and computer in developed countries. But the concept of new media reached in its height by W. Russell Neuman in 1991 when Neuman described about the capabilities of technologies to influence economic and social forces. He wanted to enlighten how to use online media for social networking and social movement. Neuman says, `We are witnessing the evolution of a universal interconnected network of audio, video and electronic text communication will blur the distinction between interpersonal and mass communication and between public and private communication`. From his view Neuman described that the new media would alter the geographical distance. It means non-physical distance among countries of the world which has been decreased by the use of new media. As a result we see that America is now called as the neighboring state of all states through the rich and appropriate use of new media. New media spread the news of tsunami and earthquake of Japan all over the world within one hour through internet sites. Another important characteristic is that new media provide opportunities for interactive communication. In this way 'feedback system' developed in new media. Another result is the development of the concept of citizen journalism that makes it the watchdog of government. New media abolished the concept of `border barrier' in communication system. As a result people from one country can express their views and communicate through blogs, websites, videos, images and other online methods without any boundary barriers. The concept of globalisation means doing something beyond the national boundaries of a nation state. New media helps all people around the world to reduce distance through electronic communication and internet. There are three factors in the communication process of new media. These are: sender, receiver, and a content or message itself. One should use a common language for communication beyond border. English in this case may be the medium. With the help of new media the information and news about the revolution of Tunisia and the Middle East such as Egypt and Libya spread throughout the world in no time, and the domino effect results in a contemporary political unrest in the whole world order. In this perspective new media is nothing but a tool of changing process. On the other hand, new media builds cooperation among communities and thus help each other in times of need. As an example, if a patient needs blood, the appeal may be through social network like Facebook. New media can also help establish kinship and make a transitional society. In 1994, in Mexico the Zapatista army used new media to ensure widely recognition for Chiapas. New media can flourish any kind of social movement through educating, organizing and sharing cultural products of movement to mobilise people. Only new media can ensure the full freedom of people to express their views and opinions. There is little chance for any dictator or autocrat to influence new media. By this process, new media can be used as a watchdog of government and a tool of democratisation. In national and international security such as food security, environment, climate change and traditional security, new media has a great role. In modern concept of security, new media can provide right information in right time so that the government as well as the agencies can go for appropriate measures. In traditional level, new media can play a vital role in global espionage process. In espionage process new media can send particular information by using particular signal rapidly in many places so that the national government can take a proper action to ensure security. People's participation is regarded as one of the main elements to ensure democracy in a state. Through new media, people's participation can be ensured. People can interact with government as well as any decision of government and prescribe government for a particular problem or issue of the state. New media can act as people's parliament through holding debates on national issues and issues of general interest. In individual level, anyone can put his CV in Google and thus market himself in modern competition. Finally the term new media is closely related with digitalisation process. Without digital media, that is new media, establishment of digital Bangladesh is not possible. The present government is very sincere about this and putting all efforts and creating facilities in this regard. It is time to grab all these facilities and use this media at all levels of individual, social and national life. Larger responsibilities in this regard lie on the young generation. The writer is a student of Political Science Department, University of Dhaka, and can be reached at Email: akibdu89@yahoo.com
Media is an important element of modern concept of state. It has a great role in world politics as well as globalization, geopolitics and security functions. In Bangladesh perspective new media is an important component of digitalisation process. The concept of new media came from the use of computer, technologies and internet in networking system. With the contribution of new media, the reflection of mass people becomes easier and faster. It adds a new milestone in the realm of media and communication. As a result, communication among general people becomes faster and effective. Through the use of internet based new media it is easy to communicate and contribute in every sector. Security system can be enriched by the proper use of new media. As a result, the geopolitics will become related and strengthened by new media. The term new media is a new concept. It is a broader concept than the traditional concept of media. The term new media encompasses both traditional media such as music, film, images, documents and documentaries and computer based communication systems and technologies with the internet connection. Traditional concept of media is a narrow concept. The traditional concept denotes only the electronic media such as TV and radio; and print media such as newspapers or books or journals. But the concept of new media basically throws light on the large arena of media based on online connection. Basic difference with traditional media is that the new media can continue to function any time any place and on any digital device. So, new media means internet based media for connecting mass people. The basic characteristic of new media is its online nature. It can be termed as e-media or digital media. Facebook, Youtube and Twitter etc are the appropriate examples of new media. It is important that news be placed in right time, right place and right way. Only new media can perform the best in these categories. Another important thing is that the new media perform with digitalization method. It digitalizes the total content into bites. These are also unavoidable character of new media. New media can be summarised as digital media with technology. Historically any change or new concept is emerged by fine arts and painting. The concept of new media also emerged in 1960 by arts. From 1960, connection between computing and radical art began. This concept developed in 1980 when a different kind of parallel relationship emerged between social change and computer in developed countries. But the concept of new media reached in its height by W. Russell Neuman in 1991 when Neuman described about the capabilities of technologies to influence economic and social forces. He wanted to enlighten how to use online media for social networking and social movement. Neuman says, `We are witnessing the evolution of a universal interconnected network of audio, video and electronic text communication will blur the distinction between interpersonal and mass communication and between public and private communication`. From his view Neuman described that the new media would alter the geographical distance. It means non-physical distance among countries of the world which has been decreased by the use of new media. As a result we see that America is now called as the neighboring state of all states through the rich and appropriate use of new media. New media spread the news of tsunami and earthquake of Japan all over the world within one hour through internet sites. Another important characteristic is that new media provide opportunities for interactive communication. In this way 'feedback system' developed in new media. Another result is the development of the concept of citizen journalism that makes it the watchdog of government. New media abolished the concept of `border barrier' in communication system. As a result people from one country can express their views and communicate through blogs, websites, videos, images and other online methods without any boundary barriers. The concept of globalisation means doing something beyond the national boundaries of a nation state. New media helps all people around the world to reduce distance through electronic communication and internet. There are three factors in the communication process of new media. These are: sender, receiver, and a content or message itself. One should use a common language for communication beyond border. English in this case may be the medium. With the help of new media the information and news about the revolution of Tunisia and the Middle East such as Egypt and Libya spread throughout the world in no time, and the domino effect results in a contemporary political unrest in the whole world order. In this perspective new media is nothing but a tool of changing process. On the other hand, new media builds cooperation among communities and thus help each other in times of need. As an example, if a patient needs blood, the appeal may be through social network like Facebook. New media can also help establish kinship and make a transitional society. In 1994, in Mexico the Zapatista army used new media to ensure widely recognition for Chiapas. New media can flourish any kind of social movement through educating, organizing and sharing cultural products of movement to mobilise people. Only new media can ensure the full freedom of people to express their views and opinions. There is little chance for any dictator or autocrat to influence new media. By this process, new media can be used as a watchdog of government and a tool of democratisation. In national and international security such as food security, environment, climate change and traditional security, new media has a great role. In modern concept of security, new media can provide right information in right time so that the government as well as the agencies can go for appropriate measures. In traditional level, new media can play a vital role in global espionage process. In espionage process new media can send particular information by using particular signal rapidly in many places so that the national government can take a proper action to ensure security. People's participation is regarded as one of the main elements to ensure democracy in a state. Through new media, people's participation can be ensured. People can interact with government as well as any decision of government and prescribe government for a particular problem or issue of the state. New media can act as people's parliament through holding debates on national issues and issues of general interest. In individual level, anyone can put his CV in Google and thus market himself in modern competition. Finally the term new media is closely related with digitalisation process. Without digital media, that is new media, establishment of digital Bangladesh is not possible. The present government is very sincere about this and putting all efforts and creating facilities in this regard. It is time to grab all these facilities and use this media at all levels of individual, social and national life. Larger responsibilities in this regard lie on the young generation. The writer is a student of Political Science Department, University of Dhaka, and can be reached at Email: akibdu89@yahoo.com