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Meaning & use

new media

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌnjuː ˈmiːdiə/
US/ˌnuː ˈmiːdiə/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    Forms of communication that depend on digital technology, such as websites, apps, social platforms and streaming services.

    Grammar: Often used with a singular verb: new media is growing; sometimes plural in formal writing.

    Patterns

    • new media and old media
    • new media platforms

    New media has changed how people find the news.

    Many young viewers now prefer new media to broadcast television.

    The museum uses new media to share its collection online.

  2. noununcountable

    An area of university study and professional work focused on digital communication, design and interactive content.

    Grammar: Often used before studies, degree or artist: a new media degree.

    Patterns

    • study new media
    • a new media course

    She is studying new media at university.

    He works in new media, designing interactive exhibits.

    A new media course covers video, design and social platforms.

Common combinations

new media platforms
New media platforms allow anyone to publish.
traditional and new media
The campaign combined traditional and new media.
new media artist
The new media artist made an installation from live data.
new media studies
She chose new media studies as her major.
rise of new media
The rise of new media has weakened some newspapers.

Synonyms and how they differ

digital media
Digital media is the neutral technical term and is often used in the same way, whereas new media suggests a contrast with traditional channels.
social media
Social media is only the part of new media in which users share content, and is therefore narrower.
online media
Online media stresses the internet and may leave out other digital forms such as video games.
multimedia
Multimedia means combining several forms such as text, sound and video, and need not be digital communication as new media is.

Opposites

old mediatraditional media

Word family

media noun
ways of communicating to large audiences
medium noun
one means of communication
digital adjective
using electronic technology
multimedia noun
using several forms of media together

Commonly confused: new media or social media?

new media vs social media

Social media is a part of new media focused on sharing and interacting, and new media is the wider category.

Practice

Which of the following is most clearly an example of new media?

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “new media”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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