Media Convergence and Gate keeping in New Media

Media Convergence

Convergence means that ‘coming together of two or more things.’ It is a co –existence or merging of several media forms such as television, print and internet in a combined digital platform. It is an ongoing process of interaction between various kinds of media platforms. It is a cooperation and collaboration between previously unconnected media platforms. 

Burnnet and Marshal define convergence as blending of media, telecommunications and computer industries. It brings together ‘the three C’s’, i.e., computing, communication, and content. It is an after effect of the digitization of media content and the popularization of the Internet. Some of the dish television providers also avails internet service through the same set top box for distributing television signals. This can also be an example of media convergence. 

Multimedia functions under the theory of convergence. Various media elements like video, audio, print, animation etc., is coming together to form a multimedia program.

Gate keeping in new media

Gate keeping is the process through which information is filtered for distribution, whether for publication, broadcasting, the Internet, or some other mode of communication. Gate keeping occurs at all levels of the media structure. In the case of internet, the individuals can also act as gatekeepers, deciding what information to include in an email or in a blog. Gate keeping process is more democratized in new media.