What is New Media?

I think the term "new media" describes the upcoming of a more digital, innovative, technology-based form of media.  Some new media technologies include the Internet, CD's/DVD's, blogs, wikis, e-mail, video conferencing, cell phones (and their many functions), social networking websites, and countless others.  A major effect of new media has been the increase of networks and enhancement of communication by the use of computers and technology.        


The most important form of new media is the Internet.  I think the most important aspect of the Internet and World Wide Web is that it connects people all over the world.  One of the objectives of media in general is the ability to reach the mass population of the world.  I think there is an emphasis from new media for people and companies to connect more directly to other people and other companies whether it's through targeted advertising in e-mails, blogs, wikis, YouTube, etc.  Without the Internet none of this would be possible.  The Internet helps link and network everyone throughout the world, which is part of new media.   
         
I don't think that right now there is a phasing out of the old media yet, but more of an improvement on it.  Newspapers, books, TV, magazines, etc. are all considered "old media," but they are still used heavily in our society.  There are a lot of new media technologies that take the old media and build on it.  For example, if I wanted to, I could read most of the Wall Street Journal or New York Times online as opposed to buying it off the newsstand.  The same goes for most major magazine publications.  I could also stream any radio station off my computer by going to the radio station's website.  If I don't have time or miss an episode on TV I can watch it on my computer, just like the article "Who Needs a TV? I'm Watching on a Laptop" says.  All of these examples use new media to provide content that is more easily accessible than the content of old media.