| Title: | Review of New Media, Online Information and User Gratifications |
| Author(s): | Onyeka UWAKWE |
| Abstract: | Media ecology is changing forcefully across the globe, and the Internet is the prime change agent. This paper examined new media users’ gratifications on the net as against the gratifications in the use of the old conventional media. The study adopted qualitative research method and specifically takes the expository style. The work was anchored on Uses and gratification theory. It notes that the initial thinking that the old media would eventually overwhelm the new media should be put to rest because the revolution in the media has not gone full cycle and appears unending. The study recommends a review of ccurriculum in mass communication related disciplines to accommodate critical areas of new media and online journalism. This should include teachings in media literacy to enable students understand new dynamics in mass communication. Also, the study notes that young people seem to have the tendency to finding gratifications from immoral contents in the Internet. Parents must therefore, take the responsibility of teaching their children how to use new media of information. This approach will include monitoring access to the Internet at the tender age, among others |
| Keywords: | Gratifications, New Media, Internet, Mainstream Media, Social Media |
