Convergence in Mass Communication Exam Questions and Answers Latest Update (Already Passed)
Convergence - Answers the coming together of computing, telecommunications, and media in a digital
environment.
Technology convergence - Answers The process of digitizing all media. Our society previously needed a
different device for consuming any conceivable type of media. If we wanted to listen to music, we
needed a radio or a record player. If we wanted to watch television, we needed a TV. Now we have the
ability to do all of those things on a single mobile phone. This type of technological convergence has
changed how we interact with media.
Economic convergence - Answers • The merging of new Internet or telecommunications companies with
traditional media companies, such as Comcast with NBC Universal.
• We now have far fewer companies that we had a few years ago. The catch is that those companies are
much larger, the process called consolidation (large companies merge with each other or absorb other
companies, forming even bigger companies).
• Economic convergence especially occurs when formerly traditional media enterprises fall under the
same corporations' umbrella. For example, non-media business like GE may purchase NBC. This results
in conflicts of interest when corporate parents do not want some aspects of their firm to be featured on
NBC, or the NBC gives prominent coverage to GE products.
• They can also bolster the user experience for its own content over content from other companies by
manipulating the frequency and transmission speed of content, or blocking materials
Cultural convergence - Answers The process of cultures converging as media is shared across cultures.
As media spreads across countries, the values and beliefs associated with that media also spreads. For
example, other countries often watch American films and television shows. As a result, some American
cultural beliefs are mixing with their own cultural traditions.
Implications---Media organization changes - Answers • Used to have "centralized" media organizations,
where content production, distribution, marketing, and other functions are controlled by a central unit
or individual. However, the cost is too great.
• Digitalized world provides new avenues for marketing and distribution over the Internet. For example,
less advertisement on print and more on Web.
• Media are being consolidated into the hands of a few very large and rich owners, an economic
structure known as an oligopoly
Implications---Media type changes - Answers • Radio is not what people hear via a radio. The radio
station websites now include texts, images, graphics, etc.
• Audience choose what they want to hear and see
Convergence - Answers the coming together of computing, telecommunications, and media in a digital
environment.
Technology convergence - Answers The process of digitizing all media. Our society previously needed a
different device for consuming any conceivable type of media. If we wanted to listen to music, we
needed a radio or a record player. If we wanted to watch television, we needed a TV. Now we have the
ability to do all of those things on a single mobile phone. This type of technological convergence has
changed how we interact with media.
Economic convergence - Answers • The merging of new Internet or telecommunications companies with
traditional media companies, such as Comcast with NBC Universal.
• We now have far fewer companies that we had a few years ago. The catch is that those companies are
much larger, the process called consolidation (large companies merge with each other or absorb other
companies, forming even bigger companies).
• Economic convergence especially occurs when formerly traditional media enterprises fall under the
same corporations' umbrella. For example, non-media business like GE may purchase NBC. This results
in conflicts of interest when corporate parents do not want some aspects of their firm to be featured on
NBC, or the NBC gives prominent coverage to GE products.
• They can also bolster the user experience for its own content over content from other companies by
manipulating the frequency and transmission speed of content, or blocking materials
Cultural convergence - Answers The process of cultures converging as media is shared across cultures.
As media spreads across countries, the values and beliefs associated with that media also spreads. For
example, other countries often watch American films and television shows. As a result, some American
cultural beliefs are mixing with their own cultural traditions.
Implications---Media organization changes - Answers • Used to have "centralized" media organizations,
where content production, distribution, marketing, and other functions are controlled by a central unit
or individual. However, the cost is too great.
• Digitalized world provides new avenues for marketing and distribution over the Internet. For example,
less advertisement on print and more on Web.
• Media are being consolidated into the hands of a few very large and rich owners, an economic
structure known as an oligopoly
Implications---Media type changes - Answers • Radio is not what people hear via a radio. The radio
station websites now include texts, images, graphics, etc.
• Audience choose what they want to hear and see
