The Impact of Internet on the Mass Media in Europe

Media and the wider sector of communication are changing under the impact of the Internet. The changes affect all aspects of the communication process, audiences, media and information producers and, inevitably, the role of the media in society. As communication industries are converging it becomes possible for companies to expand the range of their services. Previously clearly defined industry structures are dissolving and integrated media companies turn into cross - media service companies and traditional publishers into new media ventures, which publish across various distribution channels, such as Internet, wireless devices or CD-ROM. The practices of journalism and content creation also change by the overwhelming mass of information that the Internet offers. New opportunities for information delivery to readers require the acquisition of new skills in the spheres principally of information presentation and organization. This book discusses the new phenomena and the dynamics of change of the European media landscape. It includes a selection of papers from the final conference of the COST Action A20 on the impact of the internet on the existing mass media in Europe. Nikos Leandros is Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication, Media and Culture of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece. COST is an intergovernmental framework for European CO-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research, allowing the co-ordination of nationally funded research on a European level. COST Actions cover basic and pre-competitive research as well as activities of public utility. The goal of COST is to ensure that Europe holds a strong position in the field of scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes, by increasing European cooperation and interaction in this field.