EMERGING
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES
3e Bachelor Communicatiewetenschappen 2024-2025
R.M.
Universiteit Antwerpen
, 1.Introduction
What is Emerging (Communication) Technology
Emerging: coming into existence
Technology: something that is build and not part of the natural environment
(For the purpose of communicating through or communicating with)
Similarities Across Emerging Technology
Starts with an innovation
Can take a long time to evolve
Doesn’t always last
Comes with the good and the bad
1
, 2.Diffusion & Acceptance of Technology
Diffusion of Online Technology
How to Obtain Information
Prior to the World Wide Web: journalists in specific client-based services to obtain information
(Eg: Lexis-Nexis and Compuserve)
Lexis-Nexis: database
Compuserve: first commercial online service
Research question
Who are the adopters of WWW for obtaining information?
Findings
This graph shows the diffusion of online information technology in newsrooms
What percentage of groups use internet for information?
Reporters: the first to use the internet
Non-reporters: lower and more stable use with little changes over the years
Journalists saw internet as more useful for information gathering, while other media
professionals didn’t use it as quickly
2
, This graph is similar, but uses terms ‘adopters’ and ‘non-adopters’ to highlight the difference
in use of online technologies within newsrooms
Adopters (mostly reporters)
o Increased use of internet for information
o Increase from 1997-1999
Non-adopters (eg: editors)
o Little to no increase in use of internet
Journalists were the first ones to embrace the web, while other media professionals fell
behind on the adoption of online technologies
Conclusion
Technology adoption: World Wide Web as a search tool in the newsroom
Substitution of previous technology: WWW substitutes older client-based services
Identification of important groups
o Journalists as adopters: adopted quickly for own research and source verification
o Librarians and editors as non-adopters: remained faithful to traditional methods
such as archives and specialized databases, out of concern for reliability and
source control
3
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES
3e Bachelor Communicatiewetenschappen 2024-2025
R.M.
Universiteit Antwerpen
, 1.Introduction
What is Emerging (Communication) Technology
Emerging: coming into existence
Technology: something that is build and not part of the natural environment
(For the purpose of communicating through or communicating with)
Similarities Across Emerging Technology
Starts with an innovation
Can take a long time to evolve
Doesn’t always last
Comes with the good and the bad
1
, 2.Diffusion & Acceptance of Technology
Diffusion of Online Technology
How to Obtain Information
Prior to the World Wide Web: journalists in specific client-based services to obtain information
(Eg: Lexis-Nexis and Compuserve)
Lexis-Nexis: database
Compuserve: first commercial online service
Research question
Who are the adopters of WWW for obtaining information?
Findings
This graph shows the diffusion of online information technology in newsrooms
What percentage of groups use internet for information?
Reporters: the first to use the internet
Non-reporters: lower and more stable use with little changes over the years
Journalists saw internet as more useful for information gathering, while other media
professionals didn’t use it as quickly
2
, This graph is similar, but uses terms ‘adopters’ and ‘non-adopters’ to highlight the difference
in use of online technologies within newsrooms
Adopters (mostly reporters)
o Increased use of internet for information
o Increase from 1997-1999
Non-adopters (eg: editors)
o Little to no increase in use of internet
Journalists were the first ones to embrace the web, while other media professionals fell
behind on the adoption of online technologies
Conclusion
Technology adoption: World Wide Web as a search tool in the newsroom
Substitution of previous technology: WWW substitutes older client-based services
Identification of important groups
o Journalists as adopters: adopted quickly for own research and source verification
o Librarians and editors as non-adopters: remained faithful to traditional methods
such as archives and specialized databases, out of concern for reliability and
source control
3
