
iStock_internet Tom Gufler.jpg
Innovation in digital content and creative industries relies on active and creative consumers. New multimedia technologies require new capabilities (‘literacy’). Cultural acceptance and social uptake are more decisive determinants of market success than technology as such; but public policy and academic research both focus overly on the production end of the value chain.
This project, based on an ARC Federation Fellowship awarded to Professor John Hartley, promotes consumer-led innovation in Australian digital content. Through compelling analysis, it seeks to identify practical solutions which will extend the social reach of multimedia literacy. Outcomes include definitive research findings and the development of low-cost, multiplatform distribution of Australian content, for next-generation national networks.
The principal components of the research can be summarised as follows:
1. history and theory of multimedia literacy;
2. scaling-up content (classification and extension of multi-sourced publishing online);
3. citizen consumers and the ‘plebiscitary industries’; and
4. new distribution networks
Read this project's collaborative research blog Propagating Media for further discussions in this area.