So, what exactly is new media?

New media might be best defined by what it is not. It is not newspapers, direct mail, television, billboards, or radio. New media is the emerging and increasingly dominant high-tech channels through which we communicate, buy and sell, learn, manage information, and persuade others.

New media is the game score on your cell phone or a blog started by an opinionated friend. It is running an ad campaign on the internet or launching a website to spread your message. New media is online shopping and fundraising. It’s digital audio and web video. It’s meeting new people and networking online.

New media empowers the weak, allowing them to out-flank the establishment. It also sharpens the competitive edge of established leaders, allowing them to reach out directly to the community. It is cost-effective, liberating, and increasingly pervasive.