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Deep Focus: The Future of Independent Media

By Andrew Blau

"Now, media can be ubiquitous and influential, without being economically successful."

"What will grow faster in the next decade, supply of media or the demand for it?"

Communications is rapidly changing. How can independent media players--from filmmakers and bloggers to arts organization executives and funders--turn this into an opportunity to gain influence and reach a new audience, rather than get swept aside by the nature, dynamics and pace of change?

In 2004, six of San Francisco's leading independent media organizations came together with Global Business Network (GBN) to engage in a scenario planning process which looks ahead to the distinctive features of the new media environment.

The result, Deep Focus: A Report on the Future of Independent Media yields some real clues to both the opportunities we can embrace and challenges we must face.

Some key questions that emerge are: Will the public, already swimming in mobility and connectivity, be more or less supportive of independent work and themes? How can we harness this creativity and better support the independent media community as a whole? How can new stakeholders? from game developers to teens on cell phones--get engaged, develop skills and make a public impact?

Bold and imaginative, Deep Focus offers a rare preview of the likely new ecologies emerging for independent media. It offers an invitation to anyone working in media today to consider how they will adapt to the possibilities and demands that are defining this next great era for independent media.

64 pages / $15.00

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Downloads

Executive Summary

Chapter 1 of Deep Focus: A Report on the Future of Independent Media
An overview of the field as we see it evolving, and what we learn about the future conditions in which independent media will be made, circulated, and received.
Download the PDF: Deep Focus Chapter 1.

Looming Shifts in the Landscape
Insights from remarkable people inside and outside the independent media field. Peter Leyden interviews people from a wide variety of fields to give us insight into what may happen over the next ten years-- in technology, the commercial sphere, politics, globalization and demographically.
Download the PDF: Looming Shifts in the Landscape.

The New New Media: The Internet Gets Ready for Prime Time
A virtual learning tour exploring the future of motion media. Created by Peter Leyden. Take a learning journey to see how motion media is migrating onto the Web and realizing the Web's full multimedia promise.
Download the PDF: The New New Media: The Internet Gets Ready for Prime Time.

"Over the next ten years, broadband Internet access will be widely available, becoming a standard way to deliver all kinds of digital media."