The new media presents new experiences to the field of authorship and the academia. The new media which is the existence of the digital online content has completely changed the interaction of the authors with their audience and readership. The new media offers a faster and accurate communication so that the marketing of published works has become easier than ever before (Manovich, 2001, p. 12). Despite the emergence of the new media it would not be possible to replace the authors and hence they continue to occupy and enjoy their position only that they emerge at a faster rate than ever before. Despite the tremendous changes that have taken place in the publishing industry the authors remain quite useful as they are still the creators of the content. It is critical to mention the fact that technological advancement alone is not enough to render the authors irrelevant (Napoli, 2008, p. 24). The existing contents of the digital media remain the creations of the distinct authors, and therefore such authors are the creators of the original materials and hence remain useful as such contents must be promoted in the various media platforms such as the online blogs and the eBooks.
The existence of the digital contents on the internet does not deny the owners of such materials the right to claim ownership (Jenkins, 2006, p. 42). Rather it implies that the owners of the contents can avail the reading materials in the different topics to the online readers at higher rates than in the past. Just like in the print contents the new media provides the authors with the chance to avail the online contents on the different subjects such as economics, finance, environment, domestic and even fictional reading materials to the ever increasing online audience. The readers recognize the authors as the creators of the original contents and hence would relate the authors with the quality of their materials based on the user's assessments. The authors are still recognized as thinkers in their own right as the changes in the presentation of the reading materials have no relevance on the change of ownership of the content.
The new media offers the authors of the various contents the opportunity to edit and hence add or remove some of the materials in their works. Unlike in the past where the different versions of the published works are based on the stages and number of the editing carried out, authors in the new media can make changes to the published works almost at will without necessary notifying the consumers about the changes. The opportunity to add or remove some of the materials in the works ensures that the authors are continuously engaged in all kinds of research to improve the content and validity of the published works. The option provides the artists with the opportunities to update their practices which ensure relevance. The method also saves time as the authors do not have to engage in the publication of new works (Fitzpatrick, 2011, p. 11). In fact, the new media provides that the artists are continuously engaged in the updating their practices to reflect the changing times while acknowledging the landmark events which is an explicit strategy to increase sales of the published works.
A wider readership of contents in the new media ensures that published works by the different authors reach a bigger audience than before. As a result, there is the likelihood of access to materials by readers who may not necessary understands the intention of the author (Marwick, 2011, p. 1131). The curiosity of the readers compels the authors to engage with the audience and provides clarity to the existing contents. The authors are therefore able to provide insights on their original concepts about special publications and therefore create a bond with the writers .such an interaction is critical as it opens up the possibility of cultivating interest in the works by the same authors. The new media puts the artists in the front line so that they can interact with the audience that ever before.
As such, the interaction provides an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate each other as the authors get to discern the expectations of their audience. On the other hand, the audience anticipates the new publications as they get to understand the areas the various authors tackle. Therefore the new media has in fact enhanced the usefulness of the sponsors so that they can play a more interactive role with the audience which cultivates an element of understanding and hence developing a healthy relationship. Such bonds are crucial as they function in improving the field of published works. The audience is in turn more interested in the works of the authors than it would be in the case of the printed published materials. The high levels of interactions between the artists and the audience have the effect that the public could influence the opinions of the authors. Such an impact could lead to publications that consider the interests of the readers.
In the era of the new media, the authors are still the opinion shapers and contribute a lot in influencing the online ideas and also in the world of the academia. They remain the opinion shapers who are sought by the organizations such as universities and colleges as consultants. The authors contribute a lot to the development necessary for the advancement of the private sector through the provision of research-based information (Fitzpatrick, 2011. P. 18). Despite the availability of the published works online the authors remain influential and respectable figures who cannot be ignored just like those critics of the old media. The new media provides the opportunity for the artists to rejuvenate themselves to remain relevant in a fast-changing technological era. The contribution of the authors in the shaping of the opinions and the generation of ideas is more pronounced that before as there is the existence of an audience that can follow each of their theories. The fact that the authors are still leaders in the generation of the ideas implies that the public can make comparisons and hence establish the positions of various authors on topical issues. The situation provides the targeted audience to understand why particular artists reach specific positions in politics, international affairs and politics as they are to interact with the works of such authors at higher rates than in the past.
The sponsors in the context of the new media remain a point of reference and hence are quoted by the researchers and the academicians on various occasions. In fact, the younger generation of readers is keen to make reference to the works of the authors whom they feel have a clearer understanding of the contemporary technological changes. Researchers are careful in ensuring that they apply the updated information and materials and hence the high rates of reference of the works of the authors highlighted by the new media. Recent publications including the online materials are in high demand and are frequently borrowed in research and the writing of academic publications such as peer-reviewed journals. The fact most of the works in the new media are readily available to imply that they stand higher chances to be cited by young researchers who mostly rely on the online sources of information. The authors in the new media are therefore considered authorities in their right despite the recent changes in the publication sector (Fitzpatrick, 2011, p. 22). The authors still command respect in the various fields such as medicine, engineering, architecture, and commerce among others. The easier accessibility of their printed works implies that they are much more recognized than in the past and therefore capture the attention of the peers and the audience in an era of information explosion.
The new media offers the opportunity to the authors to fill the generational gap by connecting the various age groups. Consequently, the publications ensure a better platform of the multiple generations to address their differences by arguing from the point of information informed by the availability of almost free information. The situation makes it possible for the younger generation top understands, the older generation and vice versa. The gaps that existed in the past due to a lack of a common understanding have been eradicated by the availability of the published works in the new media (Miller, 2008, p. 395). The authors are critical in the generation of new ideas which are significant into informing an understanding between the younger and the older generations. The authors still continue to be relied upon to generate concepts that are critical in influencing the various sectors of the economies.
Unlike in the print media where the interaction is tedious the direct involvement of authors in the unfolding events provides significant opportunities for the writers to reposition themselves and play a more active role in the global issues than ever before. The ability to create digital contents and giving the audience an opportunity to respond is a whole new era that has been crucial in the improvement of the quality of the published materials. The updating of the published works provides the authors in the new media for attending conferences and giving speeches about their publications and hence demystifies writing as was the case in the past or the print media. The result is that the authors are much more careful and responsible for the contents they publish as they are aware of the impacts that content under the new media impact the society.
As a conclusion, the authors in the context of the new media are much more useful than before. They are the opinion shapers and offers direction to both the audience and the upcoming artists. The new media has also eradicated most of the hurdles on way of the upcoming authors. The issue of lack of funds has almost been eliminated by the new media. New authors can hence publish their works and reach a wide readership within the shortest time possible and with the employment of minimum resources. The authors can capture a broader audience and readership than the traditional print media which is tedious and expensive. The new media which is mainly driven by the existence of the internet has transformed the publication of written works so that the entire dynamics of the industry have been altered to produce a new generation of authors who are not tied to the shackles of the publication industry of the yesteryears.
References
Fitzpatrick, K., 2011. The digital future of authorship: rethinking originality. Culture Machine, 12, pp.1-26.
Flew, T., 2007. New media: An introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jenkins, H., 2006. Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. NYU press.
Kress, G., 2005. Gains and losses: New forms of texts, knowledge, and learning. Computers and composition, 22(1), pp.5-22.
Lister, M., 2009. New media: A critical introduction. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Manovich, L., 2001. The language of new media. New York: MIT press.
Marwick, A.E., 2011. I tweet honestly, I tweet passionately: Twitter users, context collapse, and the imagined audience. New media & society, 13(1), pp.114-133.
Miller, V., 2008. New media, networking and phatic culture. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 14(4), pp.387-400.
Napoli, P.M., 2008. Revisiting" mass communication" and the" work" of the audience in the new media environment. McGannon Center Working Paper Series, p.24.
