Toward a new media policy in the age of convergence

Communications in the age of media convergence tend to acquire the quality of ubiquity, wherein anybody is able to exchange any message anywhere anytime through a wide range of channels, tools or routes. The expansion of communication coverage not only promotes the opportunities of communications, but it breeds a new set of policy reactions by aggravating social conflict and unrest.

With broadcasting and telecommunications merged, the applicability and mobility of communication spaces being reinforced and the number of smart users who can deftly handle communication tools on the rise, such dysfunctions as social competition, conflict and feud are also being intensified. Thus, today's media-scape accompanying both development and confusion can be represented by this dictum: the transition from "a cool to hot state." That is because, unlike the age of mass media, the age of convergence media is being led by the Internet, which demands an active engagement of users.

In a industrial society, where the expansion of material productivity used to be a major task for national development, overcoming socio-economic crises through efficient mobilization and distribution of resources was the top policy priority. In a post-industrial society, where the reduction and control of social conflicts came to the fore as a prominent agenda, regulating legitimation crises through reconciliation of colliding collective interests was the urgent issue in public policy. In future society, where identity crises draw sharp attention, the emphasis of public policy has to be placed upon the development of visions and strategies that can enhance citizen's life competence to promote collective welfare. In particular, the media policy of future society, which shows a high probability of amplified social strain due to the Internet-based media convergence, should be focused on enhancing the meaning of life through improving the communicative rationality based upon a sense of autonomy and tolerance.