What is New Media?
New media is a catchphrase heard everywhere these days, but what is it supposed to mean? To me, new media is but a synonym of citizen’s journalism or independently produced content created by anyone. Wikipedia, however, describes new media as:
…traditional forms of media that have been transformed by advancements in digital technology and digital computing.
Not so exciting anymore, is it?
Since we launched Kitkast in October 2005, we were using the term new media (Rudy has even taken to calling me his “new media celebrity”). It wasn’t until more recently that we felt the word media didn’t fit with our entertainment-based skit show, that we stopped using the term.
Today I found out about the Canadian New Media Awards, an awards show that claims to “recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and companies in the Canadian new media industry.” I was pleased to find an awards ceremony that seemed so a propos to what we do on Galacticast, but when I had a look at the web site I was thoroughly disappointed.
The flaws:
- There is a fee to enter (I have never believed that one should pay to be nominated for an award)
- Last year’s winners are wolves in sheep’s clothing (ie. old/traditional media who happen to have a web site)
I find it aggravating that this awards ceremony is being sponsored by the Government of Canada and Canadian Heritage. Although my tax dollars are funding it I still have to pay to be nominated? Poppycock.
I don’t care what kind of money people have dished out in the past, it’s time we change awards ceremonies to give awards to the people who truly deserve it, not the highest bidders.
You are so a “new media celebrity”. Yeah when you mentioned that you had to pay to get into this award show I was like, wtf? But I guess it’s about the same submitting your film to a film festival. There’s always a fee for that. There’s always the vloggies :)
I just read your post about new media and your comments about the CNMA. I’m Adam Froman, and I founded the Canadian New Media Awards over 7 years ago and I am the Executive Producer. I’ve been in the industry since 1992, and I’m also President of Delvinia, a digital agency in Toronto. So I’ve been involved in this industry a while. I think that it is awesome that you found out about our awards, and I thought it was important to address your concerns personally.
It really bothers me when people take shots at things without actually taking the time to ask why. I’m more than happy to respond to your disappointment and comments about what you consider to be the flaws directly.
First of all, the CNMA has been a not-for-profit initiative since we started it in 1999. We started it because there wasn’t enough noise being made about those who are passionate and solely focused on producing interactive content whether it is for education, entertainment or marketing. I have found that there was not a strong enough voice for those who were ACTUALLY involved in the interactive space, while traditional industries (broadcast, film, marketing, advertising) only focused on interactive as a side-bar to their industry. Since Delvinia is in the interactive industry, I felt that as long as I was Executive Producer, I wouldn’t submit a nomination to ensure my genuine commitment to the CNMA and I would promote great work being done, people and companies in Canada through the CNMA. It has been my way of giving back.
Yes, we do charge a submission fee because we are not-for-profit. In order to put on an awards initiative of this scale it takes a lot of money and volunteer support. We do have some corporate sponsorship and of course, government support. The submission fee is used to help offset the costs to put on the CNMA. It’s a nominal fee compared to many of the other awards initiatives. Every dollar raised for the initiative goes back into improving the awards and creating a great experience for the finalists and winners.
In terms of who are the finalists and winners, your comments appear to say that they are only large players winning. A very disappointing perspective – which is not really true. There are a lot of great individuals and companies that are entirely dedicated to the “new media”. The reason we started the CNMA was that the people entire focused on interactive were not getting recognized. I find it odd when you make a comment that those being recognized are not from the industry, when this was the CNMA’s reason of being. The fact that traditional companies are submitting nominations is only a testament that interactive is becoming a more important element of all industries. All the finalists are selected by a national selection committee of over 140 people. We created the awards as that channel to promote the great work, people and companies in the industry. Instead of acting as an blogchair critic, I would encourage you to get involved and become a judge and also get people to get their nominations in so they can be recognized.
Now on to your issue with the government helping to underwrite some of the costs for the initiative. It has been the government of Canada that has single-handedly supported the new media industry when things were difficult. They recognize the importance of initiatives such as the CNMA, and you should be applauding them instead of criticizing them.
I know that blogs are used to share people’s views, but if you had such concerns, instead of making such publicly defaming comments, why wouldn’t you just send us an email to share your concerns. It is actually quite demeaning and hurtful to all those who work so hard to put the CNMA on. It bothers me that people feel they need to use their blogs to publicly piss on other people’s efforts without taking the time to explore the validity of their concerns.
I wish more people in the industry would look for the positives in what are being created instead of just criticizing. The CNMA is simply a platform the industry to embrace, support and use to build recognition for the great work being in Canada. If there is something you have a concern about, get involved and help address any negative perceptions.
There are no hidden agendas here, and I want to encourage you and your readers to support the CNMA, by submitting an award, participating on the selection committee and attending the event. You can contact our Producer Tannis Wengel, at info@cnma.ca.
I welcome your involvement in helping making the the CNMA what we both desire it to become and hope that you appreciate that I have taken the time to respond to respect your concerns about the CNMA.
But in the future, I do ask that you take the time to contact those that you choose to criticize through your blog. You have chosen the Internet to share your views publicly, and I also hope that you are willing to accept the responsibilty when you comments cause others frustration or potential harm.
thanks.
Adam Froman
Adam, for the founder of a new media awards, you don’t seem to understand new media very well (particularly the areas known as blogs and vlogs).
Casey was not a journalist doing a story, she does an innovative vlog and she wrote some criticisms of your awards.
And you were able to respond here. You (and the awards) would have been “harmed” a lot less if you had left out “take shots” and “publicly piss” (not to mention by taking that attitude, more people will read this post).
While corporations budget the fees for entering for many awards, individuals (and even some small companies) might not be able to afford $75, $100, $150, or $175. You should consider having a waiver available in those cases.
And while Galacticast probably is better than most of the nominations you’ll get in culture,emerging innovator, and the use of social media, you might want to consider adding awards for blogs, vlogs, and podcasts.
What was “new” becomes “old” quickly. New media is not just large, funded businesses and groups making “interactive” software and interactng through blogs and forums on broadcast shows. It’s everyone being a software developer/media maker/audience at different times.
I make videoblogs, write software for video on the net, watch and comment on other videoblogs. So do Rudy and Casey here, Andrew Baron at Rocketboom, and many others. What may have looked new in 1999 is now old.
I think “New Media” these days tends to be more about participation than interactivity.
The idea behind awards shows is that it’s nice to get recognition from your peers, but in a world where everyone can make and distribute media, who are your peers? Are award shows still relevant?
new media shouldnt have a static and tpp specific of a definition, ever. as the landscape evolves, so does “new media”.
bottom line is crap is crap, and awesome stuff is awesome. you’re awesome. dont stress about labels and stuff like that.
“I know that blogs are used to share people’s views, but if you had such concerns, instead of making such publicly defaming comments, why wouldn’t you just send us an email to share your concerns.”
Well, this answers your question, Casey. New Media means “stuck in 1999″.
Meanwhile, this is an award ceremony that gives lifetime achievement recognition to the “Creator/founder of the .CA top-level domain name”. Gotta admit, it was pretty far-sighted of you Canuks to invent .CA.
Casey,
You should not be surprised that someone from the CNMA wrote in to disagree with your position. Even though it is obvious that the writer is combative in a passive-agressive manner (as opposed to using fact and rationale), cut him the tinest bit of slack as he does have a brand to protect – what else would you expect from him?. However, nothing in his comments should sway you from your original thesis.
You – personally and as GALACTICAST – are so far ahead of most in the media that it will take the others time to catch up and recognize what you do. Remember, when the Grammys gave away the first award for Heavy Metal music, the winner was Jethro Tull, not Metallica. The old media needs to repackage and rebrand to seem hip and cool, which is why they win the awards in an award show they invented.
I’m hope someday the CNMA will represent the true diaspara of talent in Canada, but i’m also sure that is a far away dream. You will most probably have to start your own – the one thing that Adam Froman is scared to death of.
With Respect,
Tony Katz
http://www.talkshowonthego.com
“New media” isn’t the exclusive realm of independent producers such as yourself, but it certainly fosters and enables indie creation. It’s a core difference between new media from old: Anyone can participate. Anyone can be the media.
However, awards shows like this are skewed against independent creators and more toward organizations and agencies. A fee to enter is the norm, because the cost is small for a company compared with the potential prestige of winning. Note Mr. Froman uses the word “industry” no less than 9 times. This is about recognizing excellent new media work, yes, but it’s also about business and marketing.
So you have a few choices: Pony up, get involved, ignore them, and/or proclaim WTF?! on your blog. I applaud your decision. :-)
I’m almost sympathetic to Mr. Froman’s point – you could have simply contacted them with your concerns. Too bad he lost my sympathy with his passive-aggressive comments and apparently complete ignorance about this new thing called blogs.
Newsflash: We post about things that frustrate us on our blogs. Why? To vent, yes, but also to TALK. We wouldn’t be having this discussion if the issue was locked in a private correspondence. It would be more convenient to you and your organization though, but too bad. Casey has a voice and she’s using it to put pressure on your awards show.
What are you going to do about it?
I think it’s great that you posted this, and I’m happy that Mr. Froman responded. I understand his point about financing events, and I think it’s an acceptable model to have entry fees. It may not be a model you like, but, hey, start your own awards ceremony (I would so come to an ceremony you produced). Or maybe there are some better models, I don’t know. But, especially if his ceremony is transparent in their finances, I think charging entrants is OK.
With his comment, Mr. Froman had a great opportunity to get the word out about his event, and he kinda fell on his face by being so clueless about the norms of blog conversation, but that’s cool. It’s all a learning process. He’ll get the hang of it, and this is just one step in his journey to that point.
Thanks for getting the conversation going. Keep on Galacticasting.
I find this discussion interesting. It seems like a lot of the discussion surrounds the definition of ‘new media’, and whether it’s big firms, small firms, whatever.
Sure, there’s large firms involved in it. So what? They are legitimizing the initiatives that small firms are investing in. ‘A rising tide lifts all ships’ and all that.
A comment was made about giving John Demco a lifetime achievement award. So what? John was intimately involved in the commercialization of the Internet, which has in turn provided the medium by which firms and individuals, large and small, including everyone involved in new media, has access to a worldwide audience. Your entire vehicle to reach your audience is available in significant part due to John’s efforts, and you slam him? I’m an old fart that remembers the early days of the internet, and I personally thank John for making my life easier today. It’s easy to think it’s a trivial contribution, but think back 20 years (!) and it wasn’t.
The awards do often go to established firms that have created new divisions. OTOH, they go to new firms that are focused on this space (RocketFuel, RainCity, Vacuum Design).
If you don’t get involved, then (to paraphrase the Grammy comment), new media awards will go to firms and individuals that you don’t think truly represent the space. If Metallica should win out over Jethro Tull, then you need to agitate for more Metallica in the nominees list, and expose the judges to more of what you think is ‘real’ new media. Why don’t you volunteer to be one? Volunteer yourself to join the selection committee for an award.
Sure this is about business, marketing, and all that. For better or worse, that’s what our economy runs on.
Let me first apologize for the LONG rant. But I love the discussion I initiated.
We do have to charge a submission fee and I understand it is difficult for some, but if you are chosen as a finalist, I can tell you, the experience is well worth it.
I would welcome your participation. Email info@cnma.ca and become part of the selection committee.
thanks…Adam Froman
[...] Casey McKinnon – What is New Media? While I understand where Casey is coming from, I also understand the award organizer’s perspective of trying to do good for the community and dealing with criticism. Interesting read on many levels… (tags: newmedia socialmedia socialmediaclub:annecdote galacticast cnma canada awards) [...]