The message is the medium

Joe Mandese, in his regular comment column, discusses two current opposing trends in the media business: firstly, trying to measure and understand the media platform's contribution to the message, and, secondly, the collapse of the traditional media platform (and the artificial definitions used to describe them).

The message is the medium

Joe Mandese

I have recently begun to observe two simultaneous, but seemingly opposing, trends that tell me the underlying philosophy of the media business is being torn asunder. And while I have not the faintest idea how they will be reconciled, I will tell you we are in for one heck of a ride.

One trend is Madison Avenue's drive to measure and understand the relevance a medium has in conveying a message to consumers. The other is a blurring of the distinction between media as they grow increasingly digital, malleable and fungible. Perhaps the...

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