If the sign of the times holds the future, the Mass Media continues to witness the growing convergence of technology and the realization of Marshall McLuhan's vision of the Global Village.

For ten years, since the deregulation brought on by Congress's Telecommunications act, the media has researched, redefined, and redeveloped itself more than any other industry. the computer industry might score higher in this regard. But it, historically, has pivoted on the henge of inovasion--meaning that its mission is to progress. Opposite this business paradigm, which indeed has driven the change of so many other business models, there is the mass media. The distance by which it has grown is measured not by kilos on the scale of progress. Instead, I would measure it by the action and reaction that has caused such a wild flux in the growth of this industry.

AOL's merger with CNN-Time Warner captures the essence of how great a struggle the media has had in deciding the future of its industry. Relished as a bad idea, on how to control and corner the market, the merger has been just one of many attempts by leading media conglomerates to become ruler of the world, while amidst the passion of vane glory, their empire goes up like Niero's Rome.

Graduate schools of Journalism, following the Telecommunications Act of 1996, struggled to invision how the media would look. Myself, going through graduate school then at Grady College, I remember well the debates and discussions on where the media was going. It intrigues me that most of what we predicted while sitting around in conference rooms was wrong. except, that is, for one principle idea: the future of this industry centered around media convergence.

The purpose of this blog is to focus on the progress the media sees as it continues to converge its mediums. From the golden age of radio, to the fusing of FM with XM; from the journalist, to the blogger, this blog offers news and views outside of the mainstream portals.. I wish, also, to focus on the independent media. As the The New Yorker reportered in its July 10-17, 2006 issue, the little movers of the entertainment industry are moving in on the corperate crafted beauties and beasts. The nich has widened the gap of players for content, which will also change the future landscape of the media.

Enjoy, and feel free to leave comments.

A.W. Stephens