New media industry development:: Regions, networks and hierarchies -: Some policy implications

Promotion of the new media industry has become a significant focus for regional development strategies, as it is generally believed that the new media industry is a highly desirable form of economic activity. But is this really so? The question was put to a group of international researchers. The article which summarizes their discussion and policy recommendations states that it is by no means clear that new media activities are preferable to other forms of economic activity in a region, which might be more sustainable or better address the specific development problems of an area. The interest being focused on a few successful sites has obscured wider questions regarding the spatial and geographical distribution of new media activities.