So what does it mean? Dictionary.com cites it as “the degree or point at which lines or objects, etc., converge.” (Don’t you love it when references reuse the word in the definition?) Let’s swap the word ‘converge’ in that definition with the word ‘merge.’ So, let’s loosely define convergence as the blending of existing forms.
For our paradigm, convergence refers to the union of two or more forms or platforms of media to create a more wholistic package. Invariably, 99 percent of the time that includes online platforms. One of the best concepts to come out of journalism powwows these days has been the notion of being “platform agnostic.” That means the story is delivered to the public in whatever format is best for that story, be it print, TV, podcast, radio, web or a combination thereof.
Why is making good on this theory so terrifying to the Canadian media? Other countries’ institutions are navigating their way through this merger (take a look at the U.K.’s The Guardian), but the Canadian media is having a rough time.
Since it’s already been said (and I know I’m going against the common journalistic trend of just re-saying it), let’s take a look at what the Online Journalism Review has to say on the topic: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/business/1078349998.php
