Will new media breed new artists? - by Scott Kirsner from CinemaTech - "The first movies shown in the first Kinetoscope Parlor (it opened in 1894 on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan) were amateurish compared to the sophisticated theatrical offerings of the day.... I submit that we're at a similar moment with visual storytelling on cell phones, iPods, and the Web."

The geeks shall inherit the earth - by David Jenkinson from C21Media - "It's strange there aren't more people [at SXSW] from television, if just to see what's rising up in the homelands of digital media that may challenge traditional business models in the comfortable world of linear entertainment."

New Media Continues to Grow in Influence; Further Fragments Influence of Traditional Media - from New Communications Review - "While traditional media still rank on top, many are declining in influence and some are showing double digit losses over the previous year; whereas, many new media options are showing double digit growth."

Sarah Braun posted today about the increased presence of new media in the television and movie industry. The income from online versions of TV shows and movies was a major sticking point in the recent Writers' Guild strike against the networks and producers, and the importance of these new media will continue to grow. Sarah describes the website for NBC's "Heroes," which, like many TV shows today, is regularly mentioned during promos for the broadcast episodes. Sarah describes the site's many attractive features (which include an interactive graphic novel), and concludes:

"I think that this sort of digital content is EXACTLY what a television show’s website should be, particularly for a show like Heroes. Lost’s website is similar, though not nearly as expansive. Promises of online exclusives that turn into hours of extra content and an experience that truly immerses the viewer into the show is a surefire way to keep them coming back for more. I think as technology continues to expand and the entertainment industry continues to move towards digital media, we’ll begin to see more and more websites of that quality."

Quality content keeps eyeballs on the site, interacting with the content - and reading and watching the advertising.

(BTW, Sarah also drops a reference to The Spot in her post, just a week after our New Tech Heroes flashback on the original "webisodic fiction." Spotfans, another blogger shows the love! :) )

Sarah's post is well worth a complete read.