Comparing and Combining Media Ecology and Change Communication
What is it about?
This article compares and combines Media Ecology and Change Communication. It examines the latter’s use in the adoption of technology and the former’s concern with the surrender of culture to technological domination. The “classic change curve” is central in this examination providing a vehicle for anticipating technology change impacts and human reactions as well as generating actions and messaging to deal with these matters. It explores similarities with other “processes” such as social protest or dealing with regulation, policy and environmental issues that are more in line with a media ecology perspective. It proposes a “remediating media” process that brings together media ecology and change communication elements in a common framework that can help augment and improve the efforts of scholars and practitioners going forward.
Why is it important?
By providing a start in combining media ecology and change communication, this article offers means to advance both fields of study and practice. It provides a way in which the scholarly work of media ecology may be more deliberately and specifically applied. It also proposes ways in which practical change communication activities may be enhanced and more likely contribute to sustainability. Moreover, this text suggests where media ecology, communication, and management disciplines may intersect, interact and mutually cooperate for added value.