Conceptualizing New Media And Digital Media In A Misinformed Society.
Nwosu Chidinma Felicia Department Of Mass Communication School Of Post Graduate Studies Gregory University Uturu And Prof Uwaoma Kalu Uche Department Of Mass Communication Gregory University Uturu Email Uwafine2002@yahoo.com U.uwaoma@gregoryuniversityut
Volume 3, Issue 1, August 2023
Although the use of digital media and new media has increased considerably, conceptual challenges still exists among media professionals, academics, scholars about the concept and boundaries of these two media in addition to constant unintentional misstatements and misrepresentation of the concept of the new media and digital media in research papers by professionals and scholars of mass communication. Anchored on Agenda setting theory and critical social theory the study set out to among others determine the challenges of media professionals in conceptualizing new media and digital media in research works. Using survey (Interview session) as its research method, on a population of six(6) respondents drawn from a Focus Discussion Group (FGD); purposively sampled are media professionals and researchers who has done a research paper on either new media or digital media. Findings include that new media and digital media has unique features, yet media professionals and researchers are having challenges in conceptualizing them in research. The paper therefor concludes that conceptualizing new media and digital media in research is a challenge to media professionals and recommends that media professionals, communication experts and scholars need to offer course in new media as it has come to stay.