Amanda Onofrio Blog #2

          The media and its technologies have transformed immensely over the years. Many of the improvements that we see today involving cellphones, computers, television, and newspapers were nonexistent at some point in time. The “new” media that we all experience today has given us things like “participatory culture” and “web 2.0” that we have become accustomed to in our everyday lives. However, for individuals like our parents along with their parents, a community where consumers of media could actively participate in the creation of new content and a platform that encourages user-generated content, did not exist (Fuchs, 2017). Additionally, what we like to consider “old” media, was once the standard for media for many of our elder loved ones.

            On February 2, 2020 I met for lunch with my beautiful, 76-year old, grandmother, Ida Epstein. I told her I wanted to learn more about how media technologies like the newspaper, television, and telephone have changed since she was twenty years old, like me. I loved listening to her share how she experienced and used these technologies and identifying all of their significant changes.

Amanda: “How did you use the newspaper when you were twenty years old?”

Ida: “Well, Amanda, I had to go to the store everyday to buy the local newspaper. It cost me 10 cents to purchase the daily newspaper. I know you kids now of days gather information differently, however, I depended fully on the newspaper for information regarding matters like politics and things that were happening in the economy.

Amanda: “What were some of your favorite things to read in the newspaper?”

My grandmother was able to list off a couple of her favorite things to read about in the newspaper:                                                                                                         

•          The wedding and engagement section only in the Sunday paper
•           The comic section                                                                                          
•           Looking at the new released films in the movie section

It was interesting to hear my grandmother talk about how she used the newspaper when she was my age as it is much different now of days. It is rare to hear someone say they still purchase or even read the daily newspaper. The most significant changes she was able to identify across this medium were that she had to depend on it to receive news, the cost of the newspaper was a lot less expensive, and the general things she obtained from the newspaper that this generation would find out from social media platforms like movies, jobs, or apartments. 

The next media platform I asked her about was the television. The most significant changes she discussed were that there were no cable channels (only ABC, NBC, and CBS), the size of the television was relatively larger and thicker, and no remote controls for switching channels.

            Based off of my discussion about the television with my grandmother, several differences between “old” and “new” media stood out to me. She mentioned that there was no streaming services like Netflix or Hulu which we have an abundance of today. The most interesting difference that stood out to me was when she mentioned that her household only had one television rather than three or four like we see in many households today.

The final media technology we talked about was the telephone. When she was my age, there was no such thing as a smartphone, or even a cell phone that was wireless. She used a rotary phone to communicate with her friends and family.

Amanda: “How did you stay in contact with others through these phones?”

Ida: “In order to talk to someone, they must be at home to answer their phone. There was no such thing as voicemail so if they weren’t at home when I would call, I would have to try again at another time or else they would never know they had a missed call from me.”

The most significant changes she identified from a rotary phone compared to the smartphones we have today are:

•         No camera; no photos
•         No ability to text
•         No contact list

What surprised me the most was when she told me that in order to find out the phone number of somebody, you had to call the number “411” and speak to an operator. She explained that you would provide the operator at the other end of the line with the name and address of the person you were trying to reach and obtain their phone number that way.

Following this conversation with my grandmother, it really had me thinking about how fortunate I am to be able to use all of these advanced media technologies. The way I see the difference between “old” and “new” media is by defining it as “simple.” When my grandmother was my age technologies were simpler and she didn’t have to worry about having the newest devices or the things she was posting on social media.

“When we would go out with our friends we would actually talk to them rather than having everyone looking at their cell phones.”

-        Ida Epstein

            In my opinion, the only true difference between “old” and “new” media is that new media technologies have created a different perspective for communication. The main characteristic of new media is the concept of “spreadable media.” Through technologies such as smart phones and social media platforms, spreadable media allows for consumers to have a voice and be involved in the circulation of new content (Fuchs, 2017, 66).

            Old media technologies like the ones discussed previously perform the same functions but without as many complex features. My grandmother was able to form and maintain friendships, obtain information, and discover entertainment options through the bare minimum. I believe that the advanced technologies we use today are useful and beneficial for the community but are not necessary to live a happy life. 

Pros of “new” media:

•        Creation of social connections
•         Powerful tool for employment
•         Increase in community building

Cons of “new” media:

•       Leading misinformation
•       Negative affect on childhood
•        Fewer face-to-face encounters

Pros of “old” media:

•        Experience real world communication
•        Easy to use technologies

Cons of “old” media:

•        One-way communication process
•         Information travels slower

Overall, the most interesting point my grandmother raised that I had not considered much was how “old” media is the most trusted source for information. In a world where “new” media technologies are constantly emerging, it is difficult to balance what is factual and what is not. While it is evident that people discover their news from social media websites, there is always that risk of “fake news.” I strongly believe it is important that we remain a participatory culture involving “new” medias, but to never forget our trusted traditional media outlets. 

References

Fuchs, C. (2017). Social Media: A critical introduction. SAGE Publications.