COMM

1. Respond to the below discussion with thoughtful and thorough commentaries.

After reading about the categories inThe Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in Global Context, apply critical thinking techniques to help Shan (2010) answer this question, "Is intercultural communication possible?" under the context of new media in global society.

Intercultural communication is possible with the advent and proliferation of digital communication and new media. New media has made space and time obsolete (Chen, 2012, p. 1) and communication across geographic regions possible, allowing the exchange of thoughts, ideas, norms, and values. With that, the increased communication between groups will enable cultural competence and diffusion will occur as cultural lines begin to blur. Although intercultural communication is possible, there are obstacles to overcome, such as language barriers and cultural differences such as being from an individualist or collectivist culture (Chen, 2012, pp 4-5).

Also, has digital media influenced music? What are your music habits and how do you listen to music and buy it? How have your habits changed in the way you access and buy music?

Digital media has certainly influenced music. It has influenced the way it is produced and how we consume it. Like many, I love music, and in the late 90s to the mid-2000s I frequented my local Sam Goody to purchase CDs which I still have, but no longer use. The last physical CD I purchased was in 2016 just because I knew it would become a classic. Although I still listen to music regularly, I rarely purchase it. I most often just stream music on services such as Pandora or Spotify.

After watching"Citizen Journalism and the Democratisation of News Coverage,"provide an example of how citizen journalism has been effective. Explain how it was effective and explain how citizen journalism can also be problematic.

Citizen journalism has effectively exposed atrocities against people by bad actors and the lies of institutions, organizations, and governments. An example of this is seen in a video by Lockrey (2010) in which Iranian journalists were banned from showing the world what was happening in Tehran. However, citizen journalists were able to reveal what was actually happening in Iran during the election protests. Citizen journalism can also be problematic because many may not know or do not follow the traditional ethics of journalism. Without ethical standards, citizen journalists are more apt to not verify their information before releasing it, be deliberately deceptive, biased, and lack sensitivity and compassion. An example of this can easily be found on YouTube, as many who consider themselves citizen journalists deliver misinformation, stick cameras in the faces of others during sensitive moments, and deliver news with a slant.

References

Chen, G. (2012). The impact of new media on intercultural communication in global context. The University of Rhode Island.

2. Respond to the below discussion with thoughtful and thorough commentaries.

After reading about the categories inThe Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in Global Context, apply critical thinking techniques to help Shan (2010) answer this question, "Is intercultural communication possible?" under the context of new media in global society.

New media has transformed global communication. Social media, smartphones, and other digital gadgets have reduced temporal and spatial constraints, enabling cross-cultural information sharing and interaction. However, intercultural communication in a contemporary media-dominated society remains questionable. Cultural disparities, preconceived notions, and a dearth of comprehension may continue to impede efficacious communication despite the advancements in technology (Shan, 2010). This statement highlights the limitations of new media platforms in promoting cross-cultural understanding and suggests that significant challenges remain to effective intercultural communication.

In response to Shan's question, critical thinking can consider power dynamics and modern media-facilitated intercultural communication. Cultural bias and manipulation are common in new media platforms produced and governed by dominant cultures (Chen, 2012). This could create a power vacuum that hinders intercultural dialogue. English's widespread use in new media marginalizes non-English-speaking civilizations and strengthens Western dominance (Chen, 2012). Since new media platforms may promote intercultural contact, it is important to assess how power dynamics affect information communicated through them.

Also, has digital media influenced music? What are your music habits and how do you listen to music and buy it? How have your habits changed in the way you access and buy music?

Digital media has changed music listeners' habits and preferences. Digital media has transformed music production, consumption, and distribution (Harmon, UMGC, 2022). As a music lover, digital media has influenced my tastes. I used to like buying my favorite records and building a collection. My music tastes have changed thanks to Spotify and Apple Music. These platforms are where I stream music instead of buying it. Since digital media makes single songs easier to access and buy, I now buy tracks instead of albums.

Digital media has also helped indie artists and musicians reach more people without huge record labels. Today, independent artists can market and release their music independently thanks to social media and online platforms (Harmon, UMGC, 2022). My music tastes have changed, and I now seek out and support independent artists. I changed my music tastes because of digital media. Digital media has changed my music habits and made it more accessible, diverse, and easy.

After watching"Citizen Journalism and the Democratisation of News Coverage,"provide an example of how citizen journalism has been effective. Explain how it was effective and explain how citizen journalism can also be problematic.

The video, "Citizen Journalism and the Democratization of News Coverage, by TEDxSydney 2010," opened my eyes to the power and impact of citizen journalism in today's society. One example that stood out to me was the coverage of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. As traditional news outlets faced difficulty in accessing the sites of the attacks, citizen journalists were able to provide real-time updates and photos through social media platforms such as Twitter and Flickr (TEDxSydney, 2011). This allowed for a wider and more diverse range of perspectives to be included in the reporting of the event, providing a more holistic view of the situation. This was not only effective in providing accurate and timely information, but it also helped to break down the traditional monopoly of the news media and give a voice to the everyday individuals who were directly affected by the attacks.

However, as with any form of journalism, citizen journalism also has its drawbacks and limitations. One of the main concerns is the lack of quality control and verification of information. With the rise of social media, anyone can publish news or photos without fact-checking or ethical guidelines (TEDxSydney, 2011). This can lead to the dissemination of misinformation and propaganda, which can have harmful consequences. For example, during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, fake news stories circulated by both traditional news outlets and citizen journalists influenced public opinion and sparked political debates (DeSantis, 2018). As a result, it is crucial for consumers of citizen journalism to critically evaluate and verify information from multiple sources before accepting it as the truth.

Reference

Chen, G.-M. (2012).The Impact of New Media on Intercultural Communication in Global Context. Determining the effects of technology on children - University of Rhode. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?