George Mason University – Worried about climate change and want to learn more? You probably aren’t watching television then.

A new study by George Mason University Communication Professor Xiaoquan Zhao suggests that watching television has no significant impact on viewers’ knowledge about the issue of climate change. Reading newspapers and using the web, however, seem to contribute to people’s knowledge about this issue.

The study, “Media Use and Global Warming Perceptions: A Snapshot of the Reinforcing Spirals”, looked at the relationship between media use and people’s perceptions of global warming. The study asked participants how often they watch TV, surf the Web, and read newspapers. They were also asked about their concern and knowledge of global warming and specifically its impact on the polar regions. Continue Reading »

The Newspaper of the future.

Informationsdienst Wissenschaft – The newspaper industry is undergoing a digital transformation. This transition does not only involve the introduction of a new technique but also a radical change of the business relations of the newspaper. This is revealed in a new thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

A decrease in sales and advertising income are pressing the newspapers to expand in digital technology. Internet, mobile services, e-paper and phenomena such as YouTube are challenging the traditional ways of producing and distributing media content.

In order for digital development to move forward the newspaper industry needs the knowledge of how digital innovations change their vale networks and business relations. This is revealed in Maria Åkesson’s dissertation in informatics “Digital Innovation in the Value Networks of Newspapers”.

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