ISU Prof Looks At Consequence of Digital Future

Armed with statistics on new media use and technology lifestyle habits, the head of the Iowa State University's journalism school posed some tough questions about technologies such as social networking websites and cell phones.

Michael Bugeya kicked off the afternoon portion of the community journalism conversation with the day's first PowerPoint presentation. It was appropriate as technology was the center of his talk.

"I ask you to go back to Marshall McLuhan. Ask what is the media doing, what does it do best? That's why I have a lot of respect for printing," said Bugeya.

From his soon-to-be-released study of the consequences of administrators avoiding e-mail for two weeks to an upcoming panel on "the Ethics of Facebook," Bugeya posed tough questions about many media habits that are often taken for granted.

In addition to writing several articles for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Bugeya has authored a book entitled Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in a Technological Age.

His theory of digital displacement exemplified by such habits as students using technology to socialize during class is an example of the concerns raised about the influence of new media use on everyday life and community and/or societal disagreement.

At this moment, Bugeya is part of an afternoon panel that is responding to some of his ideas.