PowerPoint Presentation Slide 1

The Argument

• Fleras: intrusion of commercial interests and government regulation has compromised the regulatory potential of the Internet
• McLuhan: the inception of a new media casts into sharper relief the premises, priorities and power relations of existing media ( page 249).

Crucial Questions

• Should those who control the medium also control the message?
• Cases: GayTV and Shaw Cable
• BCE /CTV and Independent Film
• Sympatico(Bell) and Oliver Hate Site
• Issue is: will gatekeeper show preference/discriminate against competitors, or evade responsibility?

The Consumer’s Guide to the New Media

• 1.Question Everything that is seen, heard or read in new media. ( no FDA)
• 2. Conclude almost everything is to make money for someone.
• Assume everything is a potential threat to your privacy:
• Source: John Pavlik “ The Structure of the New Media Industry: in The Media Entertainment Industries, Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

The Myth of Convergence

• Not new
• Since 19th century
• Telegraph and global news agencies born together ( Winseck)
• AT&T ran RCA/Films until State department busted it
• In Canada today, we have one of the most consolidated media systems in the world, with a high degree of cross-media ownership

Risk and Political Economy Game

• Inventors of new technologies generate new patents ( ham heaven)
• When market become established: patents bought or litigated ( crisis of capital for development)
• Incumbent industries either block development or buy out new technology
• If new technology threatens core business of old, then predatory behavior, or massive buyout
• If new technology too risky, then businesses buy not make new service.
• Thus new technologies rarely challenge the incumbents, but over 50 years can see major change in owner players: market efficient at reducing risk and adapting to change