Final answer:
Evaluating the ecology of media is complex due to the intangibility and interrelated nature of media environments, influenced by the distinctive features of various media types and the effects of media globalization.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the text, evaluating the ecology of media is a difficult enterprise because all environments, including media environments, are inherently intangible and interrelated. This complexity arises from the nature of media itself, which extends from print media and broadcast media to the vast array of social media platforms. Media globalization has contributed to the integration of media worldwide through the cross-cultural exchange of ideas. The text also references Marshall McLuhan's famous saying, 'the medium is the message,' which emphasizes that each type of media has unique features that suggest certain uses and kinds of content, affecting how we perceive the information presented. Media plays a significant role in shaping human culture, economics, and politics, and its influence is seen in both negative and positive lights, depending on the perspective one adopts. The growth of media often prompts concerns about potential negative outcomes like mind control, bias, and poor quality. In a contemporary context, the role of media is particularly poignant as climate change and environmental degradation become more prominent issues.