What's Happening? Mobile Communication Technology and the Surveillance Function of News
Abstract
This paper discusses the argument that news has an important “surveillance function” that allows people to monitor the environment for both threats and events of interest in the context of the widespread and increasing use of mobile communications technology (MCT). It also discusses some of the issues that will arise for the production of news and information in relation to the use of MCT.
Keywords
mobile communication technology, surveillance, news, media, telepresence, mobile privatisation
Author Biography
Collette Snowden
Collette Snowden has worked as a journalist, media advisor, public relations practitioner, and as a consultant and researcher in the mobile communications and information technology sector. She is currently the Donald Dyer Research Scholar in the School of Communication, Information and New Media at the University of South Australia where she is finalising her doctorate on the use of mobile communications by media professionals.